[Health problems and factors determining the number of on-demand visits of over-users of a health centre].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the social and demographic characteristics and health problems of over-users of a health centre and to determine the number of attendances requested on demand at the general medical clinic.


METHODS
Retrospective and descriptive. Multivariate analysis: multiple linear regression.


METHODS
Urban health centre.


METHODS
Patients who requested a consultation at the health centre on at least nine occasions in 1999 (N = 7852). Random sample of 386 patients (alpha 0.05, 95% accuracy).


RESULTS
Dependent variable: number of on-demand consultations requested in 1999.


METHODS
age, family size, area of residence, active or pensioner, inclusion in programmes, health problems (CIAP-2), number of drugs on repeat prescription (Anatomical Classification), short-term time off work. 57% of over-users were women (CI, 52.9-62.7%); mean age 55 (SD 18.5); family size 2.7 members (SD 1.457); 58.8% pensioners. Mean number of appointments 15 (SD 6.7). Mean habitual consumption of 1.58 medicines (SD 2.46). Inclusion in programmes: 37.7% hypertension, 16% diabetes, 17% dyslipaemia, 16% nursing clinic. Most prevalent pathologies: cardio-circulatory (43.8%), endocrino-metabolic (32%), traumatology (26.7%) and mental health (21%). The regression model included the variables of age, number of medicines and having had short-term time off.


CONCLUSIONS
Over-users of our health centre are middle-aged women with chronic physical health problems and with mental health problems. The number of attendances is related to age and administrative requirements: medication and sick notes.
Mancera Romero
J
J
Centro de Salud Ciudad Jardín. Distrito Sanitario Málaga. Médico. jmancerar@papps.org
Muñoz Cobos
F
F
Paniagua Gómez
F
F
Fernández Lozano
C
C
Fernández Tapia
M
M
Blanca Barba
F
F
D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology