RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 [Use of health services and drugs by old people of Montreal receiving home care]
JF Canadian Medical Association Journal
JO CMAJ
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 1168
OP 1171
VO 124
IS 9
A1 Infante-Rivard, C.
A1 Krieger, M.
A1 Veilleux, B.
A1 Bordeleau, F.
YR 1981
UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/124/9/1168.abstract
AB A survey was conducted among 160 persons aged 64 year or more in Montreal who were receiving home care. They answered at home a questionnaire on their use of health care services and drugs, and showed the interviewer all the drugs they were taking. In comparison with similar data from elsewhere, the use of health care services (an average of 8.0 encounters with a physician per person per year) and of drugs (an average of 5.3 per person) by this group seems high. Perhaps this group of people was obviously sicker than others of the same age, but this remains to be shown. Moreover, despite the reported frequency of health problems, it is uncertain whether such use of services and drugs was necessary. The question is raised whether the home care system is doing for the patient what it was intended to do.