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Table 1 Area-level descriptive factors by their level of analysis

From: Trajectory modelling of ambulatory care sensitive conditions in Finland in 1996–2013: assessing the development of equity in primary health care through clustering of geographic areas – an observational retrospective study

List of variables

Comments

Health care -dependant factors

 GP consultations per 1000 inhabitants

 

 Primary and secondary care expenditures

 

 Inpatient PHC periods per 1000 inhabitants

 

 Specialised somatic inpatient care periods per 1000 inhabitants

 

 Dentist visits in health centres per 1000 inhabitants

 

 Reimbursed private dental care visits per 1000 inhabitants

 

 Proportion of inhabitants reimbursed for private health care use

 

Sociodemographic characteristics of the populations

 Proportions of inhabitants aged ≥65

 

 Ratio of people aged < 15 and > 64 to every hundred people aged 15–64

 

 Proportion of inhabitants with a tertiary education

 

 Average years of education after primary education

 

 Proportion of low-income households

 

 Proportion of inhabitants receiving basic social assistance

 

 Ratio of unemployed to total workforce

 

Municipal characteristics

 Type of municipality

Either an individual municipality or a consolidation of municipalities

 Proportion of inhabitants in the largest municipality

 

 Degree of urbanisation

 

Other health-related factors

 Potential years of life lost

 

 Pensioner’s care allowance of recipients aged ≥65 per 1000 inhabitants of the same age

Used as a proxy for both morbidity and limitations in ADL, as these are the main requirements for the allowance.

 THL’s morbidity index

Comprises cancer, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, mental health problems, accidents and dementia [14].