Relationship between Factors Affecting the Selection of Health Care Service Providers in Saveh and the Load of Visits: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Equal access to health care services is one of the basic principles of health care delivery. There are many factors affecting the access to services. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between factors affecting the selection of health care service providers in Saveh and the load of visits.

Material and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 442 patients in Saveh district in 2018. The required data were collected using a questionnaire. Cochran formula was used to calculate the statistical sample size and a total of 442 patients referring to health care service providers in Saveh were enrolled into the study using stratified sampling method. The collected data were entered into SPSS 19 software and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Logistic regression test, independent T test, and one-way analysis of variance.

Results: Based on the results, at a confidence level of 95% (p<0.05), type of illness, cost of services, distance, quality of services, perceptual and cultural factors, type of insurance, gender of patient, and occupation of patients had a relationship with the load of visits to the health care service providers in Saveh.

Conclusion: Taking into consideration the relationship between the factors affecting the selection of health care service providers and the load of visits, the authorities in the field of health are recommended to pay special attention to the related factors when planning and making decisions.