Where have all the back pains gone? Changes in the reasons for requiring out-of-hours medical care from a centralized primary care centre after changing to a list system.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to study changes in reasons for seeking assistance during out-of-hours work in a single health centre before and after introduction of the list system.


METHODS
A questionnaire concerning all out-of-hours general practice consultations for 1 week each month in two separate years (in 1990 and 1993) was completed in one health centre in central Finland (Palokka health centre) in a region with 39,465 inhabitants (37,960 inhabitants in 1990). All patients contacting the health centre to request medical help during out-of-hours work were asked to complete the questionnaire. Outcome measures were consultation rates by ICPC main codes.


RESULTS
The annual out-of-hours consulting rate per 1000 inhabitants decreased from 823 to 533 (35%) (P < 0.001). The clearest decrease (57%) from 172 to 74 consultations per 1000 inhabitants occurred in patients with musculoskeletal problems. A marked reduction (75%; from 52 to 13 consultations per 1000 inhabitants) was found in male patients with back symptoms. For female patients with neck problems the reduction of out-of-hours consultations was also marked (67% reduction; from 12 to 4 consultations per 1000 inhabitants).


CONCLUSIONS
Improvement of continuity of care for patients having musculoskeletal problems is partly a question of organization, and it is also economically justifiable.
Vehviläinen
A T
AT
University of Kuopio, Department of Community Health and General Practice, Finland.
Takala
J K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution