title: [Setting up a data collection and assessment system of the Permanent Healthcare Access Activities (PASS)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Five years after introducing the Permanent Access to Healthcare activity (PASS), it became necessary to analyse how it works.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computerized data collection and assessment system intended to evaluate the PASS health activities has been set up in 11 University Hospitals and ten General Hospitals. From January 1st to June, 30th 2003 data was captured in a computer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients requiring medical advice are young (with an average age of 35 years) and present several signs of poverty in terms of accommodation, social relationships and financial means. Besides, almost all of them are uninsured. The PASS public corresponds completely to the created system. Poverty risk factors vary according to the geographic origin. Indeed, French people often suffer from isolation, whereas foreign patients present financial problems. The major part of patients are foreigners and more than a third of them do not speak French, which is an additional obstacle to care. Most of the time, the PASS patients present digestive disorders, nevertheless there are some differences between French and foreign patients. Indeed, foreigners very frequently have digestive and osteoarticluar problems, whereas French patients suffer from psychic disorders and present addictive behaviours. Some patients are sent to physicians downtown (9%) and to external medicosocial assistance centres (39.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study (first one in France) provides us with homogenous data regarding the activities of PASS centres nationwide. The usefulness of computers and its acceptability facilitate data diffusion, with possibilities of adapting to each centre while preserving a common basis.
authors.affiliation: SAU, centre hospitalier d'Agen, route de Villeneuve-sur-Lot, 47923 Agen cedex 9, France. albert.trinh-duc@agen.aquisante.fr <albert.trinh-duc@agen.aquisante.fr>
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trinh-Duc
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de la Blanchardière
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Porcher
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rouillard
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schlienger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Collin-Paradis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grasland
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Georges
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: N'diaye
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farge-Bancel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006291:Health Policy; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy