title: Utilization Review of Specialized Services and Underlying Social Factors among Urban Families in Fars Province, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study is a utilization review of outpatient services offered by specialists and underlying social factors among urban families in Fars Province, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study conducted among 1900 residents in urban areas of Fars Province in January 2013. Sampling was carried out through a three-step method, which was designed based on utilization of health services survey. Data were analyzed using statistical tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About a quarter of the sample group expressed the need for outpatient services of specialists, of whom about 83% received medical attention of a specialist. Among the main reasons for not referring to specialists were financial issues as the top reason followed by refusal to visit the physician, long distances and high costs of the services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  About 17% of the participants who needed outpatient services of specialists failed to receive the service. This indicates the necessity of measurements to improve the access to outpatient services of specialists among different social groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrzad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lotfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Management, Faculty of Management and Medical Information, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kavosi
authors.affiliation: Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. zarifim@sums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Masoomeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarifi
authors.affiliation: Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayoubian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D014600:Utilization Review; D055815:Young Adult