title: The impact of primary healthcare reform on equity of utilization of services in the province of Quebec: a 2003-2010 follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2003, the Quebec government made important changes in its primary healthcare (PHC) system. This reform included the creation of new models of PHC, Family Medicine Groups (e.g. multidisciplinary health teams with extended opening hours and enrolment of patients) and Network Clinics (clinics providing access to investigation and specialist services). Considering that equity is one of the guiding principles of the Quebec health system, our objectives are to assess the impact of the PHC reform on equity by examining the association between socio-economic status (SES) and utilization of healthcare services between 2003 and 2010; and to determine how the organizational model of PHC facilities impacts utilization of services according to SES.
  
  
  METHODS
  We held population surveys in 2005 (n = 9206) and 2010 (n = 9180) in the two most populated regions of Quebec province, relating to utilization and experience of care during the preceding two years, as well as organizational surveys of all PHC facilities. We performed multiple logistical regression analyses comparing levels of SES for different utilization variables, controlling for morbidity and perceived health; we repeated the analyses, this time including type of PHC facility (older vs newer models).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the lowest SES, highest SES is associated with less emergency room visits (OR 0.80) and higher likelihood of at least one visit to a PHC facility (OR 2.17), but lower likelihood of frequent visits to PHC (OR 0.69), and higher affiliation to a family doctor (OR 2.04). Differences remained stable between the 2005 and 2010 samples except for likelihood of visit to PHC source which deteriorated for the lowest SES. Greater improvement in affiliation to family doctor was seen for the lowest SES in older models of PHC organizations, but a deterioration was seen for that same group in newer models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences favoring the rich in affiliation to family doctor and likelihood of visit to PHC facility likely represent inequities in access to PHC which remained stable or deteriorated after the reform. New models of PHC organizations do not appear to have improved equity. We believe that an equity-focused approach is needed in order to address persisting inequities.
authors.affiliation: Direction de la santé publique du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 1301 Sherbrooke est, Montréal, Québec, H2L 1M3, Canada. mouimet@santepub-mtl.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Marie-Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ouimet
authors.affiliation: Direction de la santé publique du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 1301 Sherbrooke est, Montréal, Québec, H2L 1M3, Canada. rpineaul@santepub-mtl.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Raynald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pineault
authors.affiliation: Direction de la santé publique du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 1301 Sherbrooke est, Montréal, Québec, H2L 1M3, Canada. aprudhom@santepub-mtl.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prud'homme
authors.affiliation: Direction de la santé publique du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 1301 Sherbrooke est, Montréal, Québec, H2L 1M3, Canada. sprovost@santepub-mtl.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Provost
authors.affiliation: Direction de la santé publique du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 1301 Sherbrooke est, Montréal, Québec, H2L 1M3, Canada. mfournie@santepub-mtl.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia. jflevesque@hotmail.com.|Bureau of health information, Level 11, Sage Building, 67 Albert Avenue, Chatswood, New South Wales, 2067, Australia. jflevesque@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jean-Frédéric
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Levesque
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011792:Quebec; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires