OBJECTIVE: To determine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of frequent attenders and compare them with another group of routine attenders in three primary care centers. METHOD: The sample is composed by 232 frequent attenders (defined by number of consultations in the last year of 12 or more) and 93 routine attenders. The instruments used are: a questionnaire for the evaluation of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the 28-item Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). RESULTS: The logistic regression shows that increase of age, low level of education, presence of chronic disease, psychiatric diagnosis and presence of psychopathological <<minor>> symptomatology establish significant differences in the group of frequent attenders in relation to the routine attenders group. There are no significant differences between men and women. CONCLUSION: Frequent attenders present higher rates of physical, mental and social complaints. Age, some chronic conditions and psychopathology are the most important factors for frequent attendance.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of frequent attenders and compare them with another group of routine attenders in three primary care centers. METHOD: The sample is composed by 232 frequent attenders (defined by number of consultations in the last year of 12 or more) and 93 routine attenders. The instruments used are: a questionnaire for the evaluation of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the 28-item Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). RESULTS: The logistic regression shows that increase of age, low level of education, presence of chronic disease, psychiatric diagnosis and presence of psychopathological <<minor>> symptomatology establish significant differences in the group of frequent attenders in relation to the routine attenders group. There are no significant differences between men and women. CONCLUSION: Frequent attenders present higher rates of physical, mental and social complaints. Age, some chronic conditions and psychopathology are the most important factors for frequent attendance.
Authors: Carri Hand; Mary Ann McColl; Richard Birtwhistle; Jyoti A Kotecha; Diane Batchelor; Karen Hall Barber Journal: Can Fam Physician Date: 2014-06 Impact factor: 3.275
Authors: Mauro Garcia-Toro; Olga Ibarra; Margalida Gili; Joan Salva; Saray Monzón; Margalida Vives; Maria J Serrano; Javier Garcia-Campayo; Miquel Roca Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2010-07-09 Impact factor: 3.295