Original scientific paper
Inequalities in Health Related Quality of Life in Primorsko-Goranska County, Croatia. How Healthy are People Using Primary Health Care?
Vladimir Mićović
Henrietta Benčević
Djulija Malatestinić
Brankica Mijandrušić Sinčić
Gordana Kendel
Vesna Štefanac-Nadarević
Abstract
We present a cross sectional study on health related quality of life and EQ5D questionnaire practical use in Primorsko-
goranska County in Croatia and inequalities in health between its sub regions with a potential application in regional
policies social and healthcare organisation. Of 1066 participants that were patients at 42 family health physician’s
waiting room, women stood for 636 (59.7%) and men for 430 (40.3%). The most commonly reported problem was
»Pain/discomfort« with 634 (59.5%) of all respondents and »Anxiety/depression« with 496 (46.6%). The worst health was
reported within older age group and in a group with the lowest socio-economic status. Sub regional differences were
found. The best health was reported in the suburbs of the town Rijeka and on the Islands, while the worst was reported in
the Mountains. EQ5D is a simple and cost-effective instrument for measuring health related quality of life and recognising
subgroups for identification of inequalities in the population.
Keywords
EQ5D; population groups; health related quality of life; health status; health planning
Hrčak ID:
34557
URI
Publication date:
1.10.2008.
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