Tuesday, October 26, 2004

SPOTLIGHT: Health care

ER use highest among youth

YOUNG people, not seniors, were most likely to use hospital emergency rooms in 2003, according to a new study.

Estimates from the Canadian Community Health Survey indicate that men were slightly more likely than women to have used emergency room (ER) services.

Among both sexes, those most likely to do so were aged 15 to 24. About 20% of men and 18% of women in this age range received treatment for a serious activity-limiting injury, or contacted a health professional, in an ER.

At older ages, ER use for both sexes declined, falling to 11% among seniors.

In total, some 3.3 million people, or one out of every eight Canadians aged 15 or older, had their most recent contact with a health professional, or treatment for an injury, in a hospital emergency room in 2003.

Household income

Household income was a factor in ER use. About 13% of people in the highest income group had received their most recent treatment in an emergency room, compared with 18% of people in the lowest income group.

This study supports results of other research showing that people who frequent emergency rooms for treatment are heavy users of other medical services.

People who reported having a "regular" doctor were just as likely to report ER use as those who said they did not have a regular physician.

However, 21% of those who had consulted a doctor more than five times during the year before the survey reported using an emergency room, almost double the proportion (12%) for those who went to the doctor less frequently.

This may reflect their need for ongoing care related to the health problem or injury that took them to the emergency room.

Satisfied with care

The survey also asked ER users if they were satisfied with their care. About three-quarters said they had received excellent or good care. Another 16% felt their care was fair, and 11% said it was poor.

However, 20% of emergency room users said that they were "somewhat" or "very dissatisfied" with the way services were provided.

Among the provinces and territories, there were striking differences in satisfaction with the provision of emergency room services. About 24% of Ontario residents reported dissatisfaction. In contrast, 11% of ER users in Yukon were dissatisfied.

You can read the full study, as well as other articles, in the October 2004 issue of Health Reports on our website.

For more information, contact GisèleCarrière (604-666-5907), Health Statistics Division.

  Print article

© 2004, Statistics Canada.