Table 2.
Between-group differences and within-group change in the average annual healthcare utilization.
| Type of service | Ashdod region (study group) | Netanya region (control group) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-market entry | Post-market entry | p valuea | Pre-market entry | Post-market entry | p valuea | |
| Primary care visits |
5.85 ± 5.27 (4.57, 5.83)* |
6.27 ± 5.82 (5.00, 7.00) |
p < 0.001 |
6.08 ± 5.67 (4.57, 6.33) |
6.45 ± 6.33 (5.00, 7.00) |
p < 0.001 |
| Specialist care visits (not requiring referral from a primary care physician)b |
2.31 ± 3.00 (1.29, 2.50)** |
2.42 ± 3.59 (1.00, 2.50)# |
p < 0.001 |
2.61 ± 3.27 (1.50, 3.07) |
2.55 ± 3.78 (1.00, 3.50) |
p < 0.001 |
| Specialist care visits (requiring referral from a primary care physician)c |
0.26 ± 0.73 (0.00, 0.14)** |
0.25 ± 0.80 (0.00, 0.00)## |
p < 0.001 |
0.42 ± 1.42 (0.00, 0.33) |
0.43 ± 1.62 (0.00, 0.00) |
p < 0.001 |
| MRI and CT scans |
0.08 ± 0.28 (0.00, 0.00) |
0.13 ± 0.45 (0.00, 0.00)## |
p < 0.001 |
0.08 ± 0.28 (0.00, 0.00) |
0.12 ± 0.44 (0.00, 0.00) |
p < 0.001 |
| Emergency room visits |
0.53 ± 2.16 (0.14, 0.50)** |
0.71 ± 2.95 (0.00, 0.50)## |
p < 0.001 |
0.40 ± 0.75 (0.14, 0.50) |
0.42 ± 0.94 (0.00, 0.50) |
p < 0.001 |
| Number of hospital admissions |
0.09 ± 0.41 (0.00, 0.00)** |
0.09 ± 0.48 (0.00, 0.00)## |
p < 0.001 |
0.12 ± 0.48 (0.00, 0.00) |
0.11 ± 0.56 (0.00, 0.00) |
p < 0.001 |
| Hospitalization days |
0.28 ±1.92 (0.00, 0.00)** |
0.27 ± 2.68 (0.00, 0.00)## |
p < 0.001 |
0.35 ± 2.05 (0.00, 0.00) |
0.32 ± 2.56 (0.00, 0.00) |
p < 0.001 |
| Elective surgeries |
0.06 ± 0.21 (0.00, 0.00)** |
0.05 ± 0.21 (0.00, 0.00)## |
p < 0.001 |
0.06 ± 0.18 (0.00, 0.00) |
0.08 ± 0.27 (0.00, 0.00) |
p < 0.001 |
Values are average ± SD (median, IQR).
aWithin-group change post-market entry, Mann–Whitney U test.
bOphthalmology, orthopedics, gynecology, general surgery, dermatology, otolaryngology.
cGastroenterology and cardiology.
*Between-group comparison, Mann–Whitney U test pre-market entry p < 0.05; ** p < 0.001.
#Between-group comparison, Mann–Whitney U test post-market entry p < 0.05; ## p < 0.001.