Gender-related differences in practice patterns in Alberta

METHODS Study Sample and Data Collection The study proceeded in two phases: the objective of phase one was to identify gender differences in billing patterns among general practitioners providing services to Edmonton residents; the goal of The Alberta Centre for Health Service Utilization Research Page 4 Gender Related Differences in Practice Patterns in Alberta phase two was to examine how practi [...] For each of the service types we examined, the outcome variables of interest were the average billing amount, the average number of services, and the The Alberta Centre for Health Service Utilization Research Page 5 Gender Related Differences in Practice Patterns in Alberta average number of visits. [...] Physician Variables From the Alberta Physician Claims and Physician Stakeholder databases, we collected information on what percentage of services and payments made were for services occurring in the physician’s office and the average number of patients seen daily on days when the physician saw at least two patients. [...] For each physician, the percentage of patients with low continuity of care was calculated and dichotomized whereupon the physician was grouped into the categories of 50% or less, or more than 50%. [...] The practices of female general practitioners, relative to those of their male counterparts, contained, on average, a higher proportion of female patients and a lower proportion of senior patients and patients residing outside the Capital or Calgary Health Regions.