What patient population does visit-based sampling in primary care settings represent?

摘要: BACKGROUND. Evaluations of outpatient interventions often rely on consecutive sampling clinic visitors, and assume that study results generalize to the population patients cared for. OBJECTIVE. The representativeness such visit-based compared with seen during same year, in terms sociodemographic clinical characteristics user groups yielded were assessed. METHODS. One thousand five hundred forty-six continuing visiting primary care firms an urban VA medical center consecutively sampled, visit frequencies for these subsets patient population. Administrative survey data was then used describe types most represented sampled less frequently. RESULTS. average visited significantly more than reference (18.7 vs. 9.5). Sampled older (>55 years), poorer health (higher prevalence cancer, stroke, hypertension), likely smoke, be single (P <0.05). Adjusting age sickness, frequent visitors apt have experienced continuity prior prefer care, unemployed. CONCLUSIONS. Consecutive actually selected a pattern typical four or times year. Studies using will typically under-represent low users should account degree which may not broader practice