title: Inequalities in health related quality of life in Primorsko-goranska County, Croatia. How healthy are people using primary health care?
abstract: We present a cross sectional study on health related quality of life and EQ5D questionnaire practical use in Primorsko-goranska County in Croatia and inequalities in health between its sub regions with a potential application in regional policies social and healthcare organisation. Of 1066 participants that were patients at 42 family health physician's waiting room, women stood for 636 (59.7%) and men for 430 (40.3%). The most commonly reported problem was "Pain/discomfort" with 634 (59.5%) of all respondents and "Anxiety/depression" with 496 (46.6%). The worst health was reported within older age group and in a group with the lowest socio-economic status. Sub regional differences were found. The best health was reported in the suburbs of the town Rijeka and on the Islands, while the worst was reported in the Mountains. EQ5D is a simple and cost-effective instrument for measuring health related quality of life and recognising subgroups for identification of inequalities in the population.
authors.affiliation: Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorsko-Goranska County, Rijeka, Croatia. ravnatelj@zzjzpgz.hr
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mićović
authors.forename: Henrietta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bencević
authors.forename: Djulija
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malatestinić
authors.forename: Brankica
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mijandrusić Sincić
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kendel
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stefanac-Nadarević
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017523:Croatia; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044382:Population Groups; D011788:Quality of Life; D012040:Regional Health Planning