Health Care Use During the Covid19 Crisis (US3R)

The project US3R is a general population survey that will measure the magnitude of utilised, postponed and foregone medical care in relation with other health care needs than coronavirus symptoms during the confinement period in Belgium. The study aims to describe the magnitude of unsatisfied health care needs for various types of care. It will also identify the reasons for these postponed and foregone care according to gender, health and socioeconomic status.

Context: Belgium has put in place confinement measures on March 13th 2020 with the aim to reduce contagion related to Covid19 in the population and manage the number of patients to be treated in the hospital. However, some weeks after those confinement measures, health care professionals are worry about other patients than Covid19 since they have observed a significantly lower use of emergency services, cancellations of screening appointments, interrupted health care in patients with chronic conditions, disabilities, or mental health disorders. Objectives: to collect data on used, postponed and foregone medical care related to other health care needs than Covid19 during the confinement period in Belgium; to measure the magnitude of unsatisfied health care needs for various types of care; to identify the reasons explained postponed and foregone care Methods : the survey is made of about 50 questions collecting self-reported data on health care use and non-use for various types of care along with demographics, socioeconomics and health status characteristics during the confinement period . Data will be analysed with Stata 15 using statistical tests and regression models. Participants are collected via social media platforms and institutionnal mailing, and Belgian newspapers.

Inclusion Criteria: living in Belgium more than 18 Exclusion Criteria: living outside Belgium less than 18