What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to determine the impact of population characteristics on variations in surgical rates.

September 1, 1982

Surgical Rate Variations: Do They Reflect the Health or Socioeconomic Characteristics of the Population?

Key Points

The aim is to determine the impact of population characteristics on variations in surgical rates.
Analyzed variations in surgical rates among the elderly across 56 small rural areas.
Compared surgical rate variations with several population characteristics including health status and socioeconomic status.
Utilized self-reported data on disability, mental status, and ethnic background.
High surgical rate areas did not correlate with a higher incidence of disability or poor health among the elderly.
Areas with higher surgical rates had more educated elderly populations.
A higher proportion of elderly in high rate areas identified as Canadian, British, or American.

Abstract

Major unexplained variations in surgical rates have been documented across geographic areas over at least the last four decades. This paper attempts to assess the contribution that population characteristics make to these variations. Variations in surgical rates among the elderly across 56 small rural areas are compared with variations in characteristics of the elderly population of these areas including self-reported health status, levels of disability, mental status, socioeconomic status, ethnic characteristics, etc. The data do not support a needs model for explaining variations in surgical rates. High rate areas were not characterized by an elderly population that was disabled and in ill health. High rate areas did contain a more educated elderly populations, as well as more elderly whose national origins were Canadian, British or American.

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