Table 2 Characteristics of respondents who attended one or multiple general practices in past 12 months

Participants (n, %)

2096 (78.9)

383 (14.4)

–

0

0

Male (n, %)

882 (42.1)

134 (35.0)

0.009

7

0

Respondents from regional centre (n, %)

994 (47.4)

255 (66.6)

0.001 (regional centre vs small town)

0

0

Respondents from small towns (n, %)

1102 (52.6)

128 (33.4)

0

0

Age (mean ± SD)

56.2 ± 18.7

46.7 ± 18.2

< 0.001

18

4

Completed year 12 or higher (n, %)

1077 (56.1)

236 (66.9)

< 0.001

175

30

Born in Australia (n, %)

1766 (84.6)

321 (83.8)

0.701

9

0

Health status (excellent, n, %)

912 (49.8)

161 (42.0)

0.006

0

0

Bulk billed (n, %)

1163 (63.3)

272 (71.4)

0.003

260

2

Private health insurance (n, %)

994 (42.3)

154 (40.2)

0.468

0

0

Frequency GP visits mean ± SD

6.3 ± 8.6

7.7 ± 9.5

0.007

267

2

Frequency GP visits median, range

4.0, 1–112

5.0, 0–99

–

267

0

Number of GP visits in previous 12 months:

• 1 (n, %)

246 (13.4)

12 (3.1)

< 0.001

• 2–3 (n, %)

576 (31.5)

119 (31.2)

0.952

• 4–11 (n, %)

715 (39.1)

168 (44.1)

0.075

• 12+ (n, %)

292 (16.0)

81 (21.3)

0.016

267

2

Number different GPs (mean ± SD)

2.2 ± 2.8

2.3 ± 1.1

0.243

7

2

Number different GP practices (mean ± SD)

1.0 ± 0.0

2.1 ± 0.3

< 0.001

0

0

Very high satisfaction with GP (n, %)

1315 (62.9)

197 (51.7)

< 0.001

5

2

Excellent level of confidence in GP (n, %)

912 (49.8)

161 (42.0)

0.006

264

0

Days waiting for appointment (mean ± SD)

4.3 ± 8.4

4.5 ± 8.2

0.698

71

10

Resides less than 5 km from GP (n, %)

1696 (86.0)

256 (69.2)

< 0.001

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

746 (79.7)

165 (67.1)

< 0.001

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

950 (91.7)

91 (73.4)

< 0.001

124

13

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

387 (19.6)

106 (28.6)

< 0.001

120

13