Table 3 Association between demographic and socioeconomic variables and hospital service use
Self-reported presentation to ED in last 12 months (any hospital) | Length of stay ≥7 days | Two or more hospital admissions in last 12 months at this hospital | Two or more non-urgent ED presentations in last 12 months at this hospital | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | |
Age | ||||
< 65 years (n = 173) | 90 | 8a | 18 a | 10 |
≥ 65 years (N = 211) | 92 | 16a | 33 a | 13 |
Home living arrangement | ||||
Lives with others (N = 307) | 90 | 12 | 26 | 12 |
Lives alone (N = 70) | 97 | 16 | 24 | 13 |
Employment status | ||||
Currently employed (N = 113) | 91 | 7 | 17 a | 11 |
Currently not working (unemployed/retired/ill) (N = 269) | 91 | 15 | 30 a | 12 |
Education | ||||
Completed secondary education or higher (N = 133) | 93 | 13 | 28 | 11 |
Did not complete secondary education (N = 234) | 91 | 13 | 24 | 17 |
Economic status | ||||
Household income < $30,000 (N =149) | 93 | 15 | 31 a | 17 a |
Household income ≥ $30,000 (N =135) | 93 | 12 | 21 a | 4 a |
Receipt of means tested government benefits | ||||
No (N = 133) | 93 | 16 a | 31 a | 13 |
Yes (N = 234) | 90 | 8 a | 17 a | 8 |
Language in country of birth | ||||
English (Australia, New Zealand, Britain) (N = 219) | 96 a | 11 | 26 | 12 |
Non-English (N = 138) | 81 a | 15 | 27 | 13 |
Language spoken at home | ||||
English (N = 283) | 96 a | 12 | 26 | 11 |
Another language (N = 90) | 78 a | 14 | 26 | 13 |
Use of internet | ||||
At least once a month (N = 218) | 93 | 10 | 25 | 12 |
Less than once a month or not at all (N = 139) | 90 | 15 | 31 | 13 |
Private health insurance | ||||
No (N = 249) | 96 a | 9 | 16 a | 8 |
Yes (N = 110) | 89 a | 14 | 30 a | 13 |