Regional variation in surgical procedure rates in Finland

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of public health 1994-06, Vol.22 (2), p.132-138
• Main Authors: Keskimäki, Ilmo, Aro, Seppo, Teperi, Juha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Appendectomy - statistics & numerical data; Biological and medical sciences; Catchment Area (Health) - statistics & numerical data; Cesarean Section - statistics & numerical data; Female; Finland - epidemiology; General aspects; Health and social institutions; Health Systems Research; Hemorrhoids - surgery; Hernia, Inguinal - surgery; Hip Prosthesis - statistics & numerical data; Hospitals, Private - statistics & numerical data; Hospitals, Public - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Hysterectomy - statistics & numerical data; Intervertebral Disc - surgery; Lenses, Intraocular - statistics & numerical data; Lumbar Vertebrae - surgery; Male; Mastectomy - statistics & numerical data; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Registries - statistics & numerical data; Surgical Procedures, Operative - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0300-8037; 1403-4948; 1651-1905
• DOI: 10.1177/140349489402200209

The aim was to describe the regional variation of population based surgery rates in Finland with special reference to the comparison of surgical activities in individual hospitals. Data on 11 common procedures covering all Finnish hospitals were obtained from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register and the Finnish Medical Birth Register of the years 1987 and 1988. The variations of age and sex standardized procedure rates were studied across the procedure specific hospital service areas. The variation was estimated by three methods: extremal quotient, coefficient of variation, and systematic component of variation. The statistical significance of the variation measures was tested with a computerized simulation model. The variation was small for mastectomy, inguinal hernia repair, and hip replacement due to fracture, and large for lumbar disc operations, haemorrhoidectomies, and uterus operations. The results are similar to those of comparable studies elsewhere. The results indicate that there are clear differences in surgical activities between Finnish hospitals.