title: Frequent attenders in general practice: a retrospective 20-year follow-up study.
abstract: We describe a 20-year retrospective study of 58 patients with a cross-matched control group in one practice, who initially attended more than 12 times in 1975. The study establishes that frequent attendance is not consistent; the majority of high-attending patients in general practice revert over a short period of time to a normal consulting pattern. Diseases, rather than patients, appear to dictate high consulting rates. Consistent high attendance is largely owing to multiple pathology.
authors.affiliation: Burn Brae Medical Group, Burn Brae, Hencoates, Hexham NE46 2ED. tim.carney@gp-a84024.nhs.uk
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jeffrey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D006113:United Kingdom; D014600:Utilization Review