Participants in the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Patient Experience Survey 2013–14 who reported that they went to any hospital emergency department for their own health in the preceding 12 months

The numerator refers to the number of adults who went to any hospital emergency department for their own health in preceding the 12 months.

The numerator was calculated as the sum of calibrated sample weights for adults who responded that they went to any hospital emergency department for their own health in the preceding 12 months and who were enumerated within the particular Primary Health Network catchment.

Population is limited to persons aged 15 years and over.

The denominator was calculated as the sum of calibrated sample weights for persons aged 15 years and over who were enumerated within the Primary Health Network catchment.

Person level survey weights were calibrated to independent estimates of the population of interest, referred to as 'benchmarks'. Weights calibrated against population benchmarks ensure that the survey estimates conform to independently estimated distributions of the population, rather than to the distribution within the sample itself. These benchmarks account for the distribution of people across state and territory, age group, and sex categories. Note: These benchmarks have not been calibrated for Primary Health Network geography.

Analysis by remoteness and Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD) is based on usual residence of the person.

The measure is presented as a percentage. 

95% confidence intervals and relative standard errors are calculated for rates.

The National Health Performance Authority developed a suppression protocol to ensure robust reporting of these data at small areas.

• These suppression rules are based on limits for Relative Standard Error¹ and Confidence Interval width of 30%, with additional cross-validation for estimates close to these limits, that is plus or minus 3% of the limits. If an estimate was marginal² with respect to Relative Standard Error, the Confidence Interval width was used as the deciding factor. If an estimate was marginal² with respect to Confidence Interval width, then Relative Standard Error is used as the deciding factor
• Data were supressed based on the following rules:

- Relative Standard Error of 33% or greater, or

- Confidence Interval (95%) width of 33% or greater, or

- Relative Standard Error between 27% and 33%, with significantly³ wider Confidence Interval width than the average for that indicator, or

- Confidence Interval width between 27% and 33%, with significantly³ wider Relative Standard Error than the average for that indicator.

^{1. For a dichotomous proportion, Relative Standard Error can be defined as the ratio of the standard error and the minimum of the estimate and its complement (100%–estimate).}

^{2. In this context, marginal is defined as within 10% of the 30% limit, or +/- 3%}

^{3. In this context, statistical significance is defined as at least two standard deviations above average.}

By Primary Health Network catchments.