[Differences in requests to out-of-hours services].
BACKGROUND
Out-of-hours services in Norway have not been systematically assessed and no national statistics exist. This article reports a pilot study of requests to three casualty clinics and the activities related to these requests.


METHODS
All requests to the three clinics, day and night for four weeks in the spring of 2006, were recorded. Variables and definitions were discussed with all participating personnel before start. A coordinator at each casualty clinic was responsible for ensuring data quality and sending data to the study centre weekly.


RESULTS
5,041 requests were recorded. Contact rates per 1,000 inhabitants ranged from 29 to 84. In two casualty clinics a large majority of the contacts were given the priority grade "not urgent". In one casualty clinic the rate "acute" was more than twice the rate in the two others. The rate of consultation with GPs differed, but the rate of home visits and acute response by ambulance and GP was low in all the casualty clinics.


CONCLUSIONS
Large differences were identified regarding several factors affecting requests to casualty clinics in Norway. This pilot study supports the need for a larger and more representative study.
Hansen
Elisabeth Holm
EH
Nasjonalt kompetansesenter for legevaktmedisin, Kalfarveien 31, 5018 Bergen. elisabeth.holm-hansen@isf.uib.no
Hunskår
Steinar
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006792:House Calls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000078329:Workforce