ArticleBMC health services research2016
Free establishment of primary health care providers: effects on geographical equity.
Article in BMC health services research, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
28 citing papers in PubMed.
- Continuity of care in the context of a primary health care reform: a follow-up after the SwedishScandinavian journal of primary health care · 2026Article
- Equity in the allocation of professional public health human resources and its improvement path in China.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Long-term trends in specialized outpatient health care utilization: an analysis in the context of a primary health care reform.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Evaluating the impact of the 2010 Swedish choice reform in primary health care on avoidable hospitalization and socioeconomic inequities: an interrupted time series analysis using register data.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Trajectories of primary health care utilization: a 10-year follow-up after the Swedish Patient Choice Reform of primary health care.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Article
- Performing up to Nordic principles? Geographic and socioeconomic equity in ambulatory care sensitive conditions among older adults in capital areas of Denmark, Finland and Sweden in 2000-2015.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Health reforms across the world: are they heading in the same direction, and how much change can we expect?Research in health services & regions · 2023Article
- Successes, weaknesses, and recommendations to strengthen primary health care: a scoping review.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2023Article
- Organizational influences on the use of low-value care in primary health care - a qualitative interview study with physicians in Sweden.Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2022Article
- Fifteen years with patient choice and free establishment in Swedish primary healthcare: what do we know?Scandinavian journal of public health · 2022Review
- Job demands, job resources, and health outcomes among nursing professionals in private and public healthcare sectors in Sweden - a prospective study.BMC nursing · 2022Article
- Health system reforms and the needs of the ageing population-an analysis of recent policy paths and reform trends in Finland and Sweden.European journal of ageing · 2022Article
- Aiming for Health Equity: The role of Public Health Policy and Primary Healthcare Comment on "Universal Health Coverage for Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Equity: Lessons From Australian Primary Healthcare".International journal of health policy and management · 2022Article
- Weak association between socioeconomic Care Need Index and primary care visits per registered patient in three Swedish regions.Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2021Observational
- Impact of Integrated Care on the Rate of Hospitalization for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions among Older Adults in Stockholm County: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.International journal of integrated care · 2021Article
- How do people choose to be informed? A survey of the information searched for in the choice of primary care provider in Sweden.BMC health services research · 2021Article
- Patients' perceptions of quality in Swedish primary care - a study of differences between private and public ownership.Journal of health organization and management · 2021Article
- Performing Through Privatization: An Ecological Natural Experiment of the Impact of the Swedish Free Choice Reform on Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions.Frontiers in public health · 2021Article
- Digital Divide in Perceived Benefits of Online Health Care and Social Welfare Services: National Cross-Sectional Survey Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundA reform in 2010 in Swedish primary care made it possible for private primary care providers to establish themselves freely in the country. In the former, publicly planned system, location was strictly regulated by local authorities. The goal of the new reform was to increase access and quality of health care. Critical arguments were raised that the reform could have detrimental effects on equity if the new primary health care providers chose to establish foremost in socioeconomically prosperous areas. The aim of this study is to examine how the primary care choice reform has affected geographical equity by analysing patterns of establishment on the part of new private providers.
methodsThe basis of the design was to analyse socio-economic data on individuals who reside in the same electoral areas in which the 1411 primary health care centres in Sweden are established. Since the primary health care centres are located within 21 different county councils with different reimbursement schemes, we controlled for possible cluster effects utilizing generalized estimating equations modelling. The empirical material used in the analysis is a cross-sectional data set containing socio-economic data of the geographical areas in which all primary health care centres are established.
resultsWhen controlling for the effects of the county council regulation, primary health care centres established after the primary care choice reform were found to be located in areas with significantly fewer older adults living alone as well as fewer single parents - groups which generally have lower socio-economic status and high health care needs. However, no significant effects were observed for other socio-economic variables such as mean income, percentage of immigrants, education, unemployment, and children <5 years.
conclusionsThe primary care choice reform seems to have had some negative effects on geographical equity, even though these seem relatively minor.
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Registered trials
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