Table 1 Characteristics of respondents who attended zero or at least one general practice in past 12 months

Participants (n, %)

178 (6.7)

2479 (93.3)

–

0

0

Male (n, %)

99 (55.6)

1016 (50.4)

< 0.001

5

7

Respondents from regional centre (n, %)

86 (48.3)

1249 (49.6)

0.420

0

0

Respondents from small towns (n, %)

92 (51.7)

1230 (92.1)

0

0

Age (mean ± SD)

39.5 ± 17.3

54.7 ± 19.0

< 0.001

4

22

Completed year 12 or higher (n, %)

108 (63.9)

1313 (57.7)

0.125

9

205

Born in Australia (n, %)

139 (78.1)

2087 (84.5)

0.003

0

9

Health status (excellent, n, %)

43 (24.3)

308 (12.4)

< 0.001

1

0

Bulk billed (n, %)

0

1435 (64.7)

–

0

262

Private health insurance (n, %)

73 (41.0)

1148 (46.3)

0.022

0

0

Frequency GP visits mean ± SD

0

6.5 ± 8.8

–

0

269

Frequency GP visits median, range

0

4.0, 0–112

–

0

269

Number of GP visits in previous 12 months:

• 1 (n, %)

258 (11.7)

–

• 2–3 (n, %)

695 (31.4)

• 4–11 (n, %)

883 (40.0)

• 12+ (n, %)

373 (16.9)

0

269

Number different GPs (mean ± SD)

0

2.3 ± 2.6

–

0

9

Number different GP practices (mean ± SD)

0

1.2 ± 0.4

–

0

0

Very high satisfaction with GP (n, %)

0

1512 (61.2)

–

0

7

Excellent level of confidence in GP (n, %)

0

1073 (48.4)

–

0

264

Days waiting for appointment (mean ± SD)

0

4.3 ± 8.3

–

0

81

Resides less than 5 km from GP (n, %)

115 (80.4)

1952 (83.3)

< 0.001

Resides < 5 km from GP: Regional centre (n, %)

45 (68.2)

911 (77.1)

< 0.001

Resides < 5 km from GP: Smaller towns (n, %)

70 (90.9)

1041 (89.7)

0.038

35

137

Attended an ED in past 12 months (n, %)

17 (10.3)

493 (21.0)

0.006

13

133