abstract background: improving the utilization rate of antenatal care is a critical strategy for achieving the reproductive health goals in iran. the aim of this study was to assess the utilization rate of antenatal care (anc) by women after health sector reform (hsr) interventions in rural areas of islamic republic of iran (ir iran). materials and methods: this is a retrospective cross-section...

The aging of the U.S. population presents a challenge to American hospitals and health systems. Not only are patients aging, but their care needs are becoming more complex as well. Compounding the problem is that many physicians are reaching retirement age, and their younger contemporaries (those born on or after 1965) tend to have a different approach to medical practice, valuing a work–life b...

OBJECTIVE To determine family physicians' availability to their general practice patients after hours and to explore the characteristics and determinants of after-hours services. DESIGN Secondary analysis of the 2001 National Family Physician Workforce Survey. SETTING Canada. PARTICIPANTS Canadian family physicians and general practitioners currently in practice (n = 10,553). MAIN OUTCO...

OBJECTIVE Youth have distinct health care needs that are not always met within a framework designed for children or adults. In Canada, little attention has been given to how youth utilize health care services and limited data are available. The aim of this study was to identify whether age, sex, socio-economic status (SES) and geographic location were significant mediators of youth health care ...

INTRODUCTION As competition for physicians intensifies in the USA, rural areas are at a disadvantage due to challenges unique to rural medical practice. Telemedicine improves access to care not otherwise available in rural settings. Previous studies have found that telemedicine also has positive effects on the work environment, suggesting that telemedicine may improve rural physician recruitmen...

PURPOSE To systematically review the outcomes of comprehensive medical school programs designed to increase the rural physician supply, and to develop a model to estimate the impact of their widespread replication. METHOD Relevant databases were searched, from the earliest available date to October 2006, to identify comprehensive programs (with available rural outcomes), that is, those that h...

INTRODUCTION Residents of Saskatchewan, particularly those in rural communities, have less access to family physician services than people in other parts of the country. This is partly due to the difficulty of attracting and retaining physicians. The objective of this study was to understand the major factors that influence the location decisions of family physicians in Saskatchewan. METHODS ...