[Factors determining demands for medical consultations in family practice].
The aim of this study was to determine the demand for general practitioner medical consultations (after three years workings of common insurance wholesome system in Poland). A cohort study of 1700 patients under general practitioner's care (952 women, 748 men) was examined over the period of 36 months (from 1st March 1999 to 28th February 2002). The index of consultations (with very good, monitoring organizational availability of services) was chosen as a measure of demand for general practitioner consultations.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant differentiation of demand for general practitioner consultations according to the patients' age and sex was ascertained. 1. Demand for general practitioner consultations was lower for men (4.71) than for women (7.17). 2. The demand curves have similar characteristics for both men and women. Both curves have three major characteristic periods; the first one having the highest demand for medical consultations, the intermediate one having the lowest and steadiest demand, and the third one being characterized by the continuously growing demand. 3. The results can aid the financial analyses of primary health care.
Szydłowski
Jarosław W
JW
Pracowni Organizacji i Ekonomiki Ochrony Zdrowia Zakładu Higieny i Epidemiologii Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej w Szczecinie. pracorg.sci.pam.azczecin.pl
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors