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Table 3 Association between having a regular GP and barriers to access (n = 1406)

From: The relationship between having a regular general practitioner (GP) and the experience of healthcare barriers: a cross-sectional study among young people in NSW, Australia, with oversampling from marginalised groups

 

Has a regular GP

n (%)

Does not have a regular GP

n (%)

P value

Cost

350 (42.7)

298 (50.8)

0.003

Opening hours mean I need time off work or study

231 (28.2)

218 (37.1)

< 0.0001

I would feel embarrassed

215 (26.3)

176 (30.0)

0.12

Difficulty getting there

181 (22.1)

154 (26.2)

0.07

I would have to ask my parents/carers to take me

189 (23.1)

124 (21.1)

0.39

I would feel judged

152 (18.6)

135 (23.0)

0.04

The gender of the doctor/ health professional

158 (19.3)

108 (18.4)

0.67

I worry about confidentiality

118 (14.4)

99 (16.9)

0.21

I don’t have my own Medicare carda

88 (10.7)

85 (14.5)

0.04

I don’t know which service to get to

81 (9.9)

84 (14.3)

0.01

Language or cultural reasons

46 (5.6)

35 (6.0)

0.78

No barriers

191 (23.3)

108 (18.4)

0.03

  1. aA Medicare card is physical evidence of Medicare eligibility even though presenting the card is not essential for receiving a service. Young people can apply for their own card from 15 years of age; those who remain on their family’s Medicare card will not physically own a card but can still seek confidential health care