Table 1
Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the study areas.
| Area | Setting | Province | GPs’ density/10 000 population (per province) [33] | Number of EDs per province [1] | Number of EDs per area [1] | Out-of-hours services | Socio-economic characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels | Urban | Brussels | 15.1 | 19 | 19 | ODC and central phone number | Diversity in origin, cultural background and socio-economic status. About one third of the population is living with an income below the risk threshold of poverty. 82.7% of the population have a regular GP [34]. In average, they consult their GP 2,8 times per year [35]. |
| Ottignies | Urban | Walloon Brabant | 17.9 | 4 | 1 | Absence of ODC and central phone number | Good socio economic status in general, and a higher average income in comparison with Wallonia (+23,3%) [36]. High population growth since 1990 (+23,2%) with increased educational level [37]. |
| Dinant | Rural | Namur | 17.6 | 6 | 2 | ODC and central phone number | The socio-economic indicators (average income, unemployment and social integration income) are less positive compared with the province of Namur [38]. 95% of the population have a regular GP. No difference is noted between urban and rural areas [39]. |
| Namur | Urban/rural | 4 | A better socio economic situation than Wallonia in general. Growing and aging population (+14,6% and +29,1% since 1990) [40]. | ||||
| Baudour | Urban | 8 | Low socio economic status, lower incomes compared to the Belgian population, more unemployment, more single-parent families, fewer tertiary graduates [41]. 95% of the population have a regular GP. They consult their GP 4,4 times per year in average [35]. | ||||
| Gosselies | Urban | Hainaut | 12.7 | 19 | ODC and central phone number | ||
| 6 |
[i] Legend:
GPs refers to General Physicians.
EDs refers to Emergency Departments.
ODC refers to Organized Duty Centers.
Calculation of EDs number for Baudour includes three areas: Soignies, La Louviere, Mons.
Table 2
Description of data collection and participants’ characteristics (N = 65).
| Sequence of interviews | GI 1 | GI 2 | GI 3 | GI 4 | GI 5 | GI 6 | GI 7 | GI 8 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Context | Brussels | Brussels | Baudour | Dinant | Namur | Ottignies | Gosselies | Brussels | |
| Investigators | MK and ST | MK and ED | MK and ST | MK and ST | MK and ST | MK and JM | MK and JM | MK and JM | |
| Profession | |||||||||
| General physician | 9 | 7 | 6 | 13 | |||||
| Emergency physician | 9 | 5 | 4 | 6 | |||||
| Emergency nurse | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Social worker | 1 | ||||||||
| Secretary | 1 | ||||||||
[i] Legend:
GI refers to Group Interview.
MK, ST, ED and JM refer to authors/investigators initials.
Used in verbatims:
Emergency Physician: EP.
General Physician: GP.
Table 3
Practice settings of the participating general physicians and the emergency departments they work with.
| Area | Practice setting | Collaborating emergency departments |
|---|---|---|
| Brussels | Private practice/ community health centres/ Screening centres/ mental health centers/ polyclinics | Private and public hospitals within Brussels according to the patient socio-economic characteristics, preferences and geographical proximity |
| Brussels | Private practice/ community health centres/ family planning centres/ polyclinics | |
| Namur | Private practice/ community health centres/ polyclinics | Hospitals within the province of Namur, Dinant, Mont-Godinne, and Ottignies |
| Baudour | Private practice | Hospitals within the Hainaut: Baudour, Tivoli, Jolimont, Soignies, and Ambroise Paré |