BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Retail clinics have become an increasingly popular source of more affordable urgent care.

Usually located in pharmacies or grocery chains, these clinics offer limited services to treat minor health problems and require no appointments, are open on weekends and evenings, and report little waiting time.

A recent study compared the cost and quality of services at these clinics with that of physician offices, urgent care centers, and emergency rooms, for the treatment of three common illnesses: ear infection, sore throat and urinary tract infection.

They found that while the quality of care at clinics was similar to physician offices and urgent care centers and better than care in emergency rooms, these clinics were significantly less expensive.

On average, treatment at the clinic was 5 times less expensive than in the emergency room.

Researchers said these findings suggest that, for certain common illnesses, retail clinics offer care that is comparable to traditional health care facilities, at a more affordable price.