Bivariate Statistics

Approximately 2.4% of ambulatory care visits were for work-related conditions (1,179 of 48,054 visits in the NAMCS sample). Of the work-related visits, 11.9% were made by African-American patients and 18.7% involved Hispanic patients. Vis its by African-American patients represented a slightly greater proportion of visits for care of work-related conditions than for nonwork-related conditions in the NAMCS sample (11.9% vs. 10.9%). Visits by Hispanic patients accounted for a much greater proportion of visits for care of work-related conditions than for nonwork-related conditions in the NAMCS sample (18.7% vs. 9.6%).

Table 1. Patient Demographic Characteristics, by Patients’ Race/Ethnicity, Office Visits for Work-Related Conditions, Weighted Percent Distribution (n=l,179)

Demographic characteristics of African-American and white patients receiving care for work-related conditions are summarized in Table 1, along with similar statistics for Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients. The age distributions were similar among African Americans compared to whites and among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanics. The proportion of African-American patients who were female (43.2%) was somewhat greater than the proportion of white patients who were female (36.6%), but that difference was not statistically significant (p=0.23). cialis professional online

Table 2. Practice Characteristics, by Patients’ Race/Ethnicity Office Visits For Work-Related Conditions, Weighted Percent Distribution (n=l,179)

Practice characteristics for patients with work-related disorders stratified by race and ethnicity are summarized in Table 2. Compared to non-Hispanics, Hispanic patients were more likely to be seen at practices owned by a private healthcare corporation or an HMO, at an urgent care setting and in an urban area. They were less likely than non-Hispanics to be seen in a private physician practice. African-American patients were also more likely than whites to receive care in a practice owned by a private healthcare corporation. Substantial regional differences in the site of visits were observed, with visits by African-American patients occurring more commonly in the south and less often in the western and northeastern United States, compared to white patients. Relative to non-Hispanics, visits by Hispanic patients were more likely to be in the west and less likely to be in the mid-western or northeastern United States. risperdal medication

Table 3. Medical Care Characteristics, by Patients’ Race/Ethnicity Office Visits For Work-Related Conditions, Weighted Percent Distribution (n=l/179)

Table 3 summarizes basic characteristics of care stratified by race and ethnicity. In general, the distribution of patients’ diagnoses and the major reasons for the visit differed little between African-American and white patients seen for work-related conditions, although African-American patients were somewhat more likely to be seen for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Likewise, there were few significant differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients with respect to diagnosis and reasons for the visit. No significant differences between groups were observed with respect to the amount of time spent with the physician, the proportion of visits involving diagnostic and screening services, the provision of therapeutic and preventive services, and whether the physician was the patient’s regular primary care provider. viagra plus

Table 3. continued

Compared to whites, African-American patients receiving care for a work-related condition were less likely to be treated by a physician and less likely to have their blood pressure taken during the visit. They were more likely than whites to receive mental health counseling and physiotherapy, have their visit paid for by Medicaid and to receive care in an HMO setting. African Americans did not differ significantly from whites with respect to the provision of x-rays, surgical procedures, the ordering or administration of prescription medication, the specialty of the physician providing treatment or the need for the clinician to obtain insurer authorization for care.
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Hispanic patients receiving care for work-related conditions were significantly more likely than non-Hispanics to be seen by an orthopedic specialist, have an x-ray taken during the visit, require insurer authorization for care and be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. They were less likely than non-Hispanic patients to be seen by a physician, nurse, medical assistant or a general/family medicine practitioner during the visit; have a canadian prescription drugs ordered or administered; pay for their visit using private insurance; and receive care in an HMO setting. There were no significant differences between Hispanics and non-Hispanics with respect to receiving physiotherapy, measuring blood pressure, surgical procedures or being seen by their regular primary care physician.