title: Predictors of the use of healthcare services in children and adolescents in Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess medium to long term predictors of healthcare services use in a population-based sample of children/adolescents in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of children and adolescents aged 8-18 and their parents were evaluated at baseline (2003) and follow-up (2006). Total use of healthcare services and visits to specialist and dentists at the follow-up were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred fifty-four children/adolescents completed baseline and follow-up assessments (response rate 54 %). 90 % of respondents reported at least one visit during the 12 months previous to the follow-up. Low socioeconomic status (beta coefficient = 0.30; 95 % CI = 0.02-0.57), double healthcare coverage (0.41; 0.17-0.66), parental use of services, poor mental health and activity limitation were associated to the total number of visits. Access to specialist was associated to double healthcare coverage (OR = 1.77; 1.01-3.07) and parental primary level of education (OR = 0.51; 0.32-0.81). Age and low family affluence predicted visits to dentists (OR = 0.38; 0.19-0.73).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No barriers to healthcare services use were found. Family level of education, family affluence and double healthcare coverage predicted the use of specialists and dentists.
authors.affiliation: Catalan Agency for Pulic Health, Roc Boronat, 81-95 (3a planta), 08005, Barcelona, Spain. jorgepalaciov@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jorge-A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Palacio-Vieira
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villalonga-Olives
authors.forename: Jose María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Valderas
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herdman
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rajmil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013030:Spain; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires