title: Who uses the 'after hours GP helpline'? A profile of users of an after-hours primary care helpline.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 'after hours GP helpline' was added to the existing 24-hour nurse triage and advice lines in Australia in July 2011. Its objective is to improve access to GP advice in the after-hours period.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to describe the user profile of an after-hours primary care helpline during its first two years of operation, including age, gender, location and relative socioeconomic advantage of users.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study undertook a retrospective review and descriptive analysis of the use and user characteristics during a two-year period in 2011-13.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The service handled more than 300,000 calls in the study period. It was well used by parents of young children, women, those living in remote areas and those who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Older people and rural residents were proportionally lower users of the service. All socioeconomic rankings were represented, with highest call rates in less advantaged areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeted promotion may assist high-need groups to benefit from after-hours telephone-based primary care advice when face-to-face GP services are unavailable.
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015277:Hotlines / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples