[Use and misuse of an outpatient casualty department].
During periods of five weeks before and five weeks after distribution of a pamphlet entitled "Before you go to your doctor or to the casualty department" which was distributed to all households, the patterns of attendance at a casualty department were investigated with subdivision into degrees of indication for attendance. A significant decrease in the number of attendances was observed after distribution of the pamphlet. Patients with lesser indications remained away. It was estimated that at least 56% of the cases could have been treated in the primary sector. 37% of the attendances outside normal working hours were considered as being postponable until daytime.
Eriksen
C B
CB
Aalborg Sygehus Syd, ortopaedkirurgisk og medicinsk afdeling.
Jensen
B N
BN
Vyberg
B
B
Ahrenholt
E
E
Lindballe
A
A
Kjaergaard
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003718:Denmark; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*