[The family characteristics of overusers of primary care health services].
OBJECTIVE
To discover the family characteristics of overusers of a family medical practice.


METHODS
Descriptive study.


METHODS
Sonseca Health Centre (Toledo).


METHODS
Overusers of the health services at a family medical practice. Variables of structure, family function and their use were studied.


RESULTS
The family type of the overusers was described as a nuclear family (61.11%), formed by 2-4 members (76.39%) in a period of decline in their life cycle (72.22%), with a certain level of familial dysfunction (13.4%) and overuse of the health services (70.49%). All these findings concurred with data published on the question.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated the importance of tackling the family as a whole within the primary care field and the relevance of studies which investigate the relationship between family variables and use of services.
Orueta Sánchez
R
R
Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Communitaria, Toledo.
Vigueras
F
F
Orgaz
P
P
Torres
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
Características familiares de los hiperutilizadores de los servicios sanitarios de atención primaria.