Disparity in health service utilization between residents with and without contracted family doctor services in Jiangsu province

  Objective  To compare the disparity in health service utilization between the residents with and without contracted family doctor services and to provide evidences for improving family doctor service system.

  Methods  The data of the study were from the Sixth National Health Service Survey conducted in 2008. Valid information on health service demand and utilization were collected via questionnaire interviews from a total 4 398 urban and rural residents living in 6 prefectures/counties/districts acorss Jiangsu province in 2008.

  Results  The proportion of the residents with and without contracted family doctor services were 42.81% (n = 1 883) and 57.19% (n = 2 515), respectively. Compared to those without contracted family doctor services, the residents with the services reported significantly higher rate of two-week prevalence, the prevalence rates of chronic disease, hypertension and diabetes, and the rates of hospitalization, self medication and buying medicine by themselves (P < 0.05 for all).

  Conclusion  In Jiangsu province, the urban and rural residents with contracted family doctor service have both higher health care demands and medical services utilization and the residents are more likely to visit doctors in grassroots medical institutions in comparison with the residents without contracted family doctor services. The effect of contracted family doctor services on reducing medical expenses is not yet observed.