Results
The study sample includes 27,972 adults who have a USC and for whom there are no missing data. Approximately 5% of the sample have ≥1 nonemergent ED visits. Table 1 reports the unadjusted differences in observed characteristics between respondents who had at least one nonemergent ED visit and those who had none. ED users are significantly more likely to report poorer general health (P < .001) and mental health (P < .001) statuses than non-ED users. A greater proportion of ED users are unemployed (P < .001), earn less income (P < .001), and are covered by public health insurance (P < .001).
Data from Table 2 show that both groups are comparable in patient-provider communication scores, yet non-ED users report slightly more decision making with (P = .007) and explanations from (P = .007) their USC. These differences, although statistically significant, are not large. ED users have poorer access to their USC. They are more likely to be driven to their USC by someone else (P < .001), and they perceive greater difficulty getting to their USC (P < .001) than non-ED users.