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BMC Primary Care
Published in: BMC Primary Care 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Do practice characteristics explain differences in morbidity estimates between electronic health record based general practice registration networks?

Authors: C van den Dungen, N Hoeymans, M van den Akker, MCJ Biermans, K van Boven, JHK Joosten, RA Verheij, MWM de Waal, FG Schellevis, JAM van Oers

Published in: BMC Primary Care | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

General practice based registration networks (GPRNs) provide information on population health derived from electronic health records (EHR). Morbidity estimates from different GPRNs reveal considerable, unexplained differences. Previous research showed that population characteristics could not explain this variation. In this study we investigate the influence of practice characteristics on the variation in incidence and prevalence figures between general practices and between GPRNs.

Methods

We analyzed the influence of eight practice characteristics, such as type of practice, percentage female general practitioners, and employment of a practice nurse, on the variation in morbidity estimates of twelve diseases between six Dutch GPRNs. We used multilevel logistic regression analysis and expressed the variation between practices and GPRNs in median odds ratios (MOR). Furthermore, we analyzed the influence of type of EHR software package and province within one large national GPRN.

Results

Hardly any practice characteristic showed an effect on morbidity estimates. Adjusting for the practice characteristics did also not alter the variation between practices or between GPRNs, as MORs remained stable. The EHR software package `Medicom' and the province `Groningen' showed significant effects on the prevalence figures of several diseases, but this hardly diminished the variation between practices.

Conclusion

Practice characteristics do not explain the differences in morbidity estimates between GPRNs.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Do practice characteristics explain differences in morbidity estimates between electronic health record based general practice registration networks?
Authors
C van den Dungen
N Hoeymans
M van den Akker
MCJ Biermans
K van Boven
JHK Joosten
RA Verheij
MWM de Waal
FG Schellevis
JAM van Oers
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Primary Care / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 2731-4553
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-014-0176-7

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