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Table 2 Characteristics of the encounters (n = 8500)

From: Prescribing patterns of encounters in fourteen general practice clinics in rural Beijing: a cross-sectional study

Encounter characteristics

n (percentage)

Gender

 Male

4046 (47.6%)

 Female

4436 (52.2%)

 Missing

18 (0.2%)

Age group

 0–24 years old

355 (4.2%)

 25–44 years old

1551 (18.2%)

 45–59 years old

3095 (36.4%)

 ≥ 60 years old

3456 (40.7%)

 Missing

43 (0.5%)

Reason for encounter

 Present with at least one symptom

4920 (57.9%)

 Regular follow up

769 (9.0%)

 Prescription refill without other complaint

2513 (29.6%)

 Other reasons

298 (3.5%)

Insurance type

 PIIS

2111 (24.8%)

 EBMS

2096 (24.7%)

 NRCMS

3463 (40.7%)

 Other insurance

300 (3.5%)

 No insurance

431 (5.1%)

 Missing

99 (1.2%)

First time visit

 Yes

521 (6.1%)

 No

7750 (91.2%)

 Missing

229 (2.7%)

Contracted patient

 Yes

5167 (60.8%)

 No

3074 (36.2%)

 Missing

259 (3.0%)

Chronic disease

 Yes

4902 (57.7%)

 No

3598 (42.3%)

Number of problems discussed

 < 3

7323 (86.2%)

 ≥ 3

1177 (13.8%)

Consultation time

 < 5 min

2774 (32.6%)

 5–10 min

3778 (44.4%)

 > 10 min

1721 (20.3%)

 Missing

227 (2.7%)

  1. Abbreviation: PIIS Public institution insurance scheme, EBMS Employee basic medical scheme, NRCMS New rural cooperative medical scheme
  2. Other reasons for encounter included check-up, transfusion and injection, sickness certificate, etc.