Discrepancies in the register of primary health care visits: a 6-year time series study from Finland

Abstract

Information on registered primary healthcare diagnoses from the Register of Primary Health Care Visits (RPV) is used to allocate healthcare funding in Finland. Our aim was to analyse the diagnosis rate trajectories in the RPV and, through that, assess the equitable development of funding. We extracted national- and regional-level diagnosis numbers from the RPV. Joinpoint regression analysis with Model 1 (overall trend) and Model 2 (potential changes in trend) was used to assess diagnosis rate trajectories from 2018 to 2024. Model 1 demonstrated that the number of registered primary healthcare diagnoses has increased between 2018 and 2024, but the growth has not been uniform across all trajectories. Model 2 showed significant differences in the diagnosis rate trajectories between regions and diagnostic groups. There were significant discrepancies in the registration of primary care diagnoses. Reducing these discrepancies by standardizing diagnosis registration practices is necessary to ensure equitable healthcare funding.