BACKGROUND: There are many reasons why people frequently consult their general practitioner (GP). Although loneliness is increasingly recognized as a problem affecting well-being for elderly people, it has rarely been addressed as a predictor of frequency of consultation. AIM: To examine whether loneliness is associated with rates of GP consultations (home and surgery visits). METHOD: Analysis of data collected in face-to-face interviews at the second wave of a longitudinal health survey of two adult age cohorts living in four socially contrasting urban localities in Glasgow City. There were a total of 691 subjects: 142 males and 176 females aged 40 years at interview; and 167 males and 206 females aged 60 years at interview. Frequency of reported GP consultations in the past 12 months at home or in the surgery was examined. RESULTS: After controlling for sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables and health, loneliness was significantly associated with frequency of consultation at the surgery but not with the frequency of home visits. CONCLUSION: Loneliness may still be underestimated as a factor related independently to frequency of consultations with a GP at the surgery.
BACKGROUND: There are many reasons why people frequently consult their general practitioner (GP). Although loneliness is increasingly recognized as a problem affecting well-being for elderly people, it has rarely been addressed as a predictor of frequency of consultation. AIM: To examine whether loneliness is associated with rates of GP consultations (home and surgery visits). METHOD: Analysis of data collected in face-to-face interviews at the second wave of a longitudinal health survey of two adult age cohorts living in four socially contrasting urban localities in Glasgow City. There were a total of 691 subjects: 142 males and 176 females aged 40 years at interview; and 167 males and 206 females aged 60 years at interview. Frequency of reported GP consultations in the past 12 months at home or in the surgery was examined. RESULTS: After controlling for sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables and health, loneliness was significantly associated with frequency of consultation at the surgery but not with the frequency of home visits. CONCLUSION: Loneliness may still be underestimated as a factor related independently to frequency of consultations with a GP at the surgery.
Authors: Steve Iliffe; Kalpa Kharicha; Danielle Harari; Cameron Swift; Gerhard Gillmann; Andreas E Stuck Journal: Br J Gen Pract Date: 2007-04 Impact factor: 5.386
Authors: Martin Scherer; Wolfgang Himmel; Michael M Kochen; Janka Koschack; Dirk Ahrens; Jean-Francois Chenot; Anne Simmenroth-Nayda; Christoph Herrmann-Lingen Journal: Psychosoc Med Date: 2008-04-02
Authors: Nicole K Valtorta; Danielle Collingridge Moore; Lynn Barron; Daniel Stow; Barbara Hanratty Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2018-02-22 Impact factor: 9.308