title: Clinically inexplicable frequent attenders in general practice.
abstract: This study was based in an isolated rural practice, and it identified 107 frequent attenders (1.95% of the practice population), who created five times the consultation workload of a similar group matched for age and sex. The general practitioners (GPs) classified 60 (56%) of these patients as attending for clinically inexplicable reasons. This subgroup had higher rates of long-term medication and hospital referral, and more free access to primary health care. The study also identified very high levels of kinship and relationship by marriage within this group (47%).
authors.affiliation: Trinity College Dublin.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Dowd
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors