Patients' opinions on family doctor accessibility in Estonia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the accessibility of family doctors in Estonia from the patients' point of view.


METHODS
Face to face interviews using structured questionnaires were performed. A random sample of the Estonian residents, aged 15-74 years, was studied (n=999).


RESULTS
The number of visits provided by family doctors has been continuously increasing since 1998. Out of 999 respondents, 59% visited the family doctor during the previous 12 months. The average number of visits per Estonian resident in one year is 2.48. Out of 999 interviewed persons, 72% said that they had a possibility of contacting their family doctor by phone. The waiting time for an appointment was short in most cases. The family doctor admitted 60% of the respondents on the same day the patients had requested; 22% of the patients were admitted within 1-2 days and 9% of the patients were admitted within 3-4 days. Only 9% of them had to wait more than 5 days. The current home visit fee in Estonia would have affected the decision of the home call of 58% of people. There was a correlation between the acceptability of a visit fee and the people's income.


CONCLUSIONS
The accessibility of family doctors can be considered good in Estonia.
Kalda
Ruth
R
Department of Polyclinic and Family Medicine, Tartu University, Tartu, Estonia. ruth.kalda@ut.ee
Polluste
Kaja
K
Maaroos
Heidi-Ingrid
HI
Lember
Margus
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004957:Estonia; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires