[Role of primary care in the frequent attendance to the emergency service of a county hospital].
OBJECTIVE
To know the sociodemographic variables influence on a county hospital emergency department attendance, spontaneous consults reasons and to analyze the derivations made from primary care.


METHODS
Descriptive, crossover.


METHODS
All who attended the emergency department in this period, excluded the pediatrics population, moved patients and occasional emergencies (n = 755). We collected sociodemographic characteristics, emergency justification, way of access (spontaneous or referred), spontaneous visits reasons and doctor from whom refers.


RESULTS
Average age: 52 +/- 23. Mostly males. An 83% belongs to non-productive sectors. An 51.1% came without P10 alleging symptoms which suggested seriousness or because they considered that there are more means in a hospital. Emergencies referred from primary care, specially those referred by their family doctor were admitted in a bigger proportion and were more justified than the spontaneous ones. Self decision attendance decreases from the closest health basic area to the furthest, difference which is not observed in referred patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The emergency user in a hospital is a male, middle-aged, non-productive laboraly. Most patients referred from primary care (specialty those by the family doctor) are justified and produce incomes. Distance inversely influences spontaneous attendance, but does not influence patients referred from primary care.
Llorente Alvarez
S
S
Centro de Salud La Felguera, Langreo, Asturias.
Alonso Fernández
M
M
Buznego Alvarez
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006766:Hospitals, County / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013030:Spain
Papel de la atención primaria en la frecuentación al servicio de urgencias de un hospital comarcal.