title: A dynamic analysis of GP visiting in Ireland: 1995-2001.
abstract: This paper examines the determinants of GP visiting in Ireland, using panel data from the Living in Ireland Survey from 1995-2001. While cross-sectional studies provide important information on GP visiting patterns at a certain point in time, with panel data we can also control for unobserved individual heterogeneity, as well as identify whether it is the same individuals who consistently visit their GP year on year, or whether there is more mobility in visiting. We therefore estimate dynamic models of GP utilisation, and attempt to decompose the observed variation in GP visiting into components attributable to observed individual characteristics, unobserved individual heterogeneity and state dependence.
authors.affiliation: Economic and Social Research Institute, 4 Burlington Road, Dublin 4, Ireland. anne.nolan@esri.ie
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nolan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005251:Fees, Medical; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007350:Insurance, Hospitalization; D007357:Insurance, Physician Services; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009819:Office Visits / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors