RT Journal Article
T1 Estimation of the real population and its impact on the utilisation of healthcare services in Mediterranean resort regions: an ecological study.
A1 Perea-Milla, Emilio
A1 Pons, Sergi M.
A1 Rivas-Ruiz, Francisco
A1 Gallofre, Anna
A1 Navarro Jurado, Enrique
A1 Navarro Ales, Marco A.
A1 Jimenez-Puente, Alberto
A1 Fernandez-Nieto, Fidel
A1 March Cerda, Joan C.
A1 Carrasco, Manuel
A1 Martin, Lydia
A1 Lopez Cano, Damian
A1 Gutierrez, Gonzalo E.
A1 Cortes Macías, Rafael
A1 Garcia-Ruiz, Jose A.
K1 Adulto
K1 Distribución por Edad
K1 Anciano
K1 Ecología
K1 Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital
K1 Femenino
K1 Alemania
K1 Reino Unido
K1 Colonias de Salud
K1 Humanos
K1 Masculino
K1 Región Mediterránea
K1 Mediana Edad
K1 Dinámica de Población
K1 Escandinavia
K1 Estaciones
K1 Distribución por Sexo
K1 España
K1 Viaje
K1 Revisión de Utilización de Recursos
K1 Administración de Residuos
AB BACKGROUNDThe demographic structure has a significant influence on the use of healthcare services, as does the size of the population denominators. Very few studies have been published on methods for estimating the real population such as tourist resorts. The lack of information about these problems means there is a corresponding lack of information about the behaviour of populational denominators (the floating population or tourist load) and the effect of this on the use of healthcare services. The objectives of the study were: a) To determine the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) ratio, per person per day, among populations of known size; b) to estimate, by means of this ratio, the real population in an area where tourist numbers are very significant; and c) to determine the impact on the utilisation of hospital emergency healthcare services of the registered population, in comparison to the non-resident population, in two areas where tourist numbers are very significant.METHODSAn ecological study design was employed. We analysed the Healthcare Districts of the Costa del Sol and the island of Menorca. Both are Spanish territories in the Mediterranean region.RESULTSIn the two areas analysed, the correlation coefficient between the MSW ratio and admissions to hospital emergency departments exceeded 0.9, with p < 0.001. On the basis of MSW generation ratios, obtained for a control zone and also measured in neighbouring countries, we estimated the real population. For the summer months, when tourist activity is greatest and demand for emergency healthcare at hospitals is highest, this value was found to be double that of the registered population.CONCLUSIONThe MSW indicator, which is both ecological and indirect, can be used to estimate the real population in areas where population levels vary significantly during the year. This parameter is of interest in planning and dimensioning the provision of healthcare services.
PB BioMed Central
YR 2007
FD 2007-01-31
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/1686
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/1686
LA en
NO Perea-Milla E, Pons SM, Rivas-Ruiz F, Gallofre A, Jurado EN, Ales MA, et al. Estimation of the real population and its impact on the utilisation of healthcare services in Mediterranean resort regions: an ecological study. BMC Health Serv Res 2007; 7:13
NO Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;
DS RISalud
RD Apr 17, 2025