Table 3 Mean HLQ scale scores and odds ratios (OR) for bivariate associations between education and having used an out-of-hours primary care service in the past year, and HLQ scales and having used a primary care out-of-hours service in the past year

 Low (ref)

–

1.00

1.00

 Intermediate

–

0.61 (0.46; 0.80)***

0.65 (0.49; 0.85)**

 High

–

0.63 (0.46; 0.86)**

0.70 (.50; 0.96)*

 One

–

1.00

–

 Two

–

1.09 (0.83; 1.44)

–

 Three or more

–

1.37 (1.02; 1.83)*

–

Illness duration in years

–

1.01 (1.00; 1.02)*

–

 Feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers (range 1–4) (n = 1745)

2.97 (.51)

1.14 (0.90; 1.45)

1.12 (0.88; 1.43)

 Having sufficient information to manage my health (range 1–4) (n = 1741)

2.92 (.42)

0.83 (0.63; 1.10)

0.81 (0.61; 1.08)

 Actively managing my health (range 1–4) (n = 1723)

2.85 (.43)

1.29 (0.98; 1.70)

1.31 (0.99; 1.74)

 Social support for health (range 1–4) (n = 1739)

2.91 (.49)

0.87 (0.68; 1.11)

0.88 (0.69; 1.13)

 Appraisal of health information (range 1–4) (n = 1724)

2.64 (.48)

1.43 (1.11; 1.84)**

1.52 (1.18; 1.97)**

 Ability to actively engage with healthcare providers (range 1–5) (n = 1709)

3.97 (.62)

0.76 (0.63; 0.92)**

0.79 (0.65; 0.96)*

 Navigating the healthcare system (range 1–5) (n = 1720)

3.87 (.62)

0.75 (0.63; 0.91)**

0.79 (0.65; 0.95)*

 Ability to find good health information (range 1–5) (n = 1709)

3.90 (.62)

0.71 (0.59; 0.85)***

0.76 (0.62; 0.92)**

 Understanding health information well enough to know what to do (range 1–5) (n = 1711)

4.03 (.57)

0.73 (0.60; 0.89)**

0.76 (0.62; 0.94)*