[Analysis of the inappropriate utilization of the emergency service of a third-level hospital].
OBJECTIVE
a) To find the reasons for inadequate use of Hospital Casualty Departments (HCDs); b) to discover the general population's levels of information concerning non-hospital Emergency Services (NESs); c) to analyse the relationship between the type of Primary Care Centre (PCC), i.e. whether reformed or not, and inadequate use of HCDs.


METHODS
A crossover study.


METHODS
The Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital Casualty Department, Badalona.


METHODS
A random sample of 321 patients over 14 years old, who were attended for pathologies considered emergencies not requiring hospital treatment.


RESULTS
The variables gathered were: age, gender, where the patient came from, reason for hospital use, knowledge of NESs and subsequent referral. 83.2% of patients attended on their own initiative. The main reasons given were "advantages of a hospital" and "the persistence of symptoms." 49% of the patients stated they knew of the NESs. 80% of the patients proceeded from PCCs which had not been reformed. There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) when the variables "reason for use" and "knowledge of NESs" were compared in relation to where the patient came from (i.e. reformed or non-reformed PCC).


CONCLUSIONS
General practitioners in reformed PCCs are less likely to refer to HCDs. Knowledge and use of NESs should be actively supported.
Descarrega
R
R
Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona.
Gutiérrez
C
C
Cruz
L
L
López
I
I
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care
Análisis de la utilización inadecuada del servicio de urgencias de un hospital de tercer nivel.