title: A feasible method to study the Danish out-of-hours primary care service.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The primary care out-of-hours (OOH) service is of considerable importance; it is the main provider of freely accessible medical advice outside daytime hours, and it covers 75% of the active time in the health-care system. Although the OOH handles three million contacts annually, only little is known about the reasons for encounter, the performed clinical work and the patient perspectives.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a one-year period (2010-2011), data on patient contacts were collected using pop-up questionnaires integrated into the existing IT system. The questions explored the contents and characteristics of patient contacts. A paper-based questionnaire was sent to the included patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all 700 general practitioners (GP) on duty, 383 (54.7%) participated at least once, and the participating GPs were representative of all GPs. In total, 21,457 contacts were registered; and the distribution of patient, contact and GP characteristics in OOH contacts was similar to the background contacts. Telephone consultations were most often offered to children and home visits primarily to elderly patients. The patient response rate was 51.2%. Females comprised the majority of the included contacts and of the respondents in the patient survey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method was highly feasible for generating a representative sample of contacts to OOH services. The project has formed a substantial and valid basis for further studies and future research in the OOH service.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Financed by the Region of Central Jutland, the Danish National Research Foundation for Primary Care and the Health Foundation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
authors.affiliation: Institut for Folkesundhed, Forskningsenheden for Almen Praksis, Bartholins Allè 2, Aarhus Universitet, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. l.flarup@alm.au.dk.
authors.forename: Lone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flarup
authors.forename: Grete
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moth
authors.forename: Morten Bondo
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vestergaard
authors.forename: Frede
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olesen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vedsted
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006792:House Calls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010290:Parents; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult