[The influence of a prior appointment on primary care consultations in the Murcia region].
OBJECTIVE
Analysis of how the prior appointment system affects various indicators of attendance.


METHODS
A multi-centered intervention study. SITE. Faculty of Medicine. Department of Social-Health Sciences.


METHODS
Patients seen in the general consulting-rooms of urban and rural Health Centres during the same months in two successive years, i.e. before and after setting up the prior appointment system.


METHODS
Introduction of the prior appointment programme (a consultation, with the hour and date arranged beforehand). Questionnaire given to the patient at the end of the consultation.


RESULTS
The personal variations of age and sex, and also of those relating to the medical side were compared by means of the questionnaire, before and after the introduction of the prior appointment system. Significant differences were only seen in relation to hospital referral, which tripled; and to the number of prescriptions per person, which increased.


CONCLUSIONS
The prior appointment system has meant less waiting-time for patients and a rationalisation of consultation time; but it has not substantially altered the content of the consultation.
Moreno
E
E
Departamento de Ciencias Sociosanitarias, Universidad de Murcia.
Gómez-Calcerada
D
D
Sandoval
C
C
Cánovas
J
J
Ramos
C
C
Peñalver
F J
FJ
Guillén
F
F
Marset
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors
Influencia de la cita previa en las consultas de atención primaria en la región de Murcia.