Health and mental health care utilization by clients of resources for homeless persons in quebec city and montreal, Canada: a 5-year follow-up study.
The objective of this cohort study is to describe the service utilization by clients of homeless resources in Quebec and Montreal (Canada) over a 5-year period. Participants (N = 426) were recruited from a survey conducted in 1999 about clients' utilization of resources intended for homeless people in Montreal and Quebec. Data analyzed in this study were also drawn from three administrative databanks managed by the Quebec health care system. Results revealed that: (1) in general, mental health services are less used than physical health services; (2) generally, women, older persons, nonhomeless persons, and persons with mental health problems utilized proportionately more health services; and (3) participants involved in this study tend to continue using services over years in a system where health services are free. These findings are discussed in terms of long-term service utilization by clients of homeless resources.
Bonin
Jean-Pierre
JP
Faculty of Nursing Sciences, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128 Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3C 3J7. jean-pierre.bonin@umontreal.ca
Fournier
Louise
L
Blais
Régis
R
Perreault
Michel
M
White
Noé Djawn
ND
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011792:Quebec; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires