Having a regular doctor: rural, semi-urban and urban differences in Newfoundland.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies suggest that 23% of adult Newfoundlanders do not have a regular doctor. Using data from the 1995 Newfoundland Panel on Health and Medical Care study, we examined the urban, semi-urban and rural differences in the characteristics of adult (age 20 and over) Newfoundlanders who did and did not have a regular doctor.


METHODS
We used chi2 tests and logistic regression to analyze data from 11,789 respondents from randomly selected households in Newfoundland. The dependent variable was "Have a regular doctor" (Yes / No). The independent variable was "Place of residence" (Urban / Semi-urban / Rural) and covariates included socio-demographic and health-related variables.


RESULTS
Fifteen percent (1771) of Newfoundlanders did not have a regular doctor. Of these, the largest proportion of respondents without a regular doctor lived in rural communities (74.4%); were male (62.6%); were 20-29 years old (28.7%); married (68.8%); of high socio-economic status (44.7%); working full-time (35.3%); had excellent or good health (83.0%); had no chronic illness (40.3%), disability (93.3%) or impairments to activities of daily living (98.0%); and were in excellent or good emotional health (90.7%). Compared to their urban counterparts, residents of semi-urban communities were as likely (odds ratio 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84-1.26) not to have a regular doctor and residents of rural communities were 4.03 (95% CI 3.50-4.65) times more likely than their urban counterparts not to have a regular doctor.


CONCLUSIONS
In 1995, fewer adult Newfoundlanders than previously estimated did not have a regular doctor. Rural residents were more likely not to have a regular doctor than residents of either urban or semi-urban communities.
Mathews
Maria
M
Division of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Nfld.
Edwards
Alison C
AC
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018881:Suburban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*