A social indicator of access to medical care

Abstract

This study introduces a social indicator of access to medical care - the symptoms response ratio - that reflects the difference between the number of visits in response to symptoms that actually occur and the number that a panel of physicians indicate is appropriate for these same symptoms. Findings on the index for a national sample of the United States population affirm differentials in access that are generally thought to exist in terms of other access indicators (conventional use measures, insurance coverage, etc). Nonwhites, rural farm people, the poor, and those who have no usual place to go for medical care were found to have less access to care than would be judged appropriate, based on the symptoms response index. The index also suggests possible 'over utilization' among certain groups such as children and people who see specialists as their regular source of care. (Journal received: Nov. 1976)