title: [Characteristics of the patient overusing on-demand general medical services].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the characteristics and reasons for consultation of the patient who over-uses on-demand general medical services.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study of a sample of over-user patients and a control group of normal users.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Chantrea Health Centre in Pamplona during 1991.
  
  
  METHODS
  An age and gender-stratified sample of 411 over user patients and a control group of normal users were selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over-users corresponded to 5% to those attending. We found no significant differences for gender, but we did for age (p < 0.001), regarding the control group; 84% of over-users had a chronic associated pathology. Comparatively, over-users made more bureaucratic and prescription visits (35%) and attended less scheduled appointments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The over-users is associated to being older and especially to having a chronic pathology and not attending scheduled appointments.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud de Chantrea, Pamplona.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fuertes Goñi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alvarez Tutor
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: García de la Noceda Montoya
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández Velilla Ruiz de la Torre
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Echarte Osacain
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abad Vicente
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain
vernacular_title: Características del paciente hiperfrecuentador de las consultas de demanda de medicina general.