[Referral of non-traumatic emergencies treated during after-office hours, the Sukkertopp, in 1985].
All of the emergencies of non-traumatic nature in the Sukkertop/Maniitsoq medical district in Greenland were registered during the year 1985. A total of 601 patients in which the sexes were equally represented were registered. Two thirds of these sought medical advice during the weekends, mainly between 10.00 and 17.00 hours. On weekdays, these patients came between 16.00 and 20.00 hours. The clientele involved was young and 1/4 were under the age of two years. 2.5% of these were admitted and 15% were followed up in the outpatient department. One fourth of the patients were given advice only and these consultations were interpreted as unnecessary. The disease pattern was distributed over 73 diagnoses and these could be summarized in 18 main groups. More than half of the consultations involved common, slightly infectious diseases and these were the reason for a two humped seasonal variation. It was considered that a number of the consultations occurred because of defective knowledge about health and these indicate a need for improved health information. Other conditions such as alterations in the structure of the health system, establishment of district health nursing and employment of the knowledge about variation in the pattern of consultations may lead to improved function in the health system.
Marschall
B
B
D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006116:Greenland; D006801:Humans; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy
Henvendelser uden skadekarakter i vagtperioder, Sukkertoppen 1985.