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Bogerd MJ, Exmann CJ, Slottje P, Bont J, Van Hout HP. Predicting anticipated benefit from an extended consultation to personalise care in multimorbidity: a development and internal validation study of a prioritisation algorithm in general practice. Br J Gen Pract 2024; 74:e307-e314. [PMID: 38164549 PMCID: PMC11044021 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp.2023.0114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persons with multimorbidity may gain from person-centred care compared with the current protocolised chronic-disease management in Dutch general practice. Given time constraints and limited resources, it is essential to prioritise those most in need of an assessment of person-centred chronic-care needs. AIM To develop and validate a prioritisation algorithm based on routine electronic medical record (EMR) data that distinguishes between patients with multimorbidity who would, and those who would not, benefit from an extended person-centred consultation to assess person-centred chronic-care needs, as judged by GPs. DESIGN AND SETTING A mixed-methods study was conducted in five general practices in the north-west region of the Netherlands. Four out of the five practices were situated in rural areas. METHOD Multivariable logistic regression using EMR data to predict the GPs' judgement on patients' anticipated benefit from an extended consultation, as well as a thematic analysis of a focus group exploring GPs' clinical reasoning for this judgement were conducted. Internal validation was performed using 10-fold cross-validation. Multimorbidity was defined as the presence of ≥3 chronic conditions. RESULTS In total, EMRs from 1032 patients were included in the analysis; of these, 352 (34.1%) were judged to have anticipated benefit. The model's cross-validated C-statistic was 0.72 (95% confidence interval = 0.70 to 0.75). Calibration was good. Presence of home visit(s) and history of myocardial infarction were associated with anticipated benefit. Thematic analysis revealed three dimensions feeding anticipated benefit: GPs' cause for concern, patients' mindset regarding their conditions, and balance between received care/expected care needed. CONCLUSION This algorithm may facilitate automated prioritisation, potentially avoiding the need for GPs to personally triage the whole practice population that has multimorbidity. However, external validation of the algorithm and evaluation of actual benefit of consultation is recommended before implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieke Jl Bogerd
- Department of General Practice, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Collin Jc Exmann
- Department of General Practice, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pauline Slottje
- Department of General Practice, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jettie Bont
- Department of General Practice, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hein Pj Van Hout
- Department of General Practice, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Zhao N, Gu M, Li J, Zhang H, Yang J. Factors influencing contracting of residents with family doctors in China: a national cross-sectional survey. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:213. [PMID: 38360648 PMCID: PMC10870580 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10606-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family doctor contract services (FDCS) have been introduced in China in 2009 [1] and rapidly expanded recently. This study sought to investigate factors that influenced the willingness of Chinese residents to use FDCS. METHODS We employed multistage stratified and convenience sampling to administer questionnaires to 1455 Beijing, Qinghai, and Fujian residents. The willingness of residents in each province to contract family doctors was analyzed using the chi-square test and binary logistic regression. RESULTS The analysis in this study found that the signing rate of family doctors in China was about 27.77%, with differences in the signing up levels in Beijing (13.68%), Fujian (64.49%) and Qinghai (11.22%). In addition, the binary logistic regression results emphasized the relative importance of age, education, medical preference and policy knowledge on the willingness to sign up. Distrust of family doctors' medical skills (65.7%), not knowing how to contract (47.8%), and not knowing what medical problems can be solved (41.1%) were the top three reasons accounting for the reluctance of residents to contract with family doctors. CONCLUSION Residents from different backgrounds have different willingness to sign up, so the specific circumstances and needs of different groups should be taken into account. In order to increase the signing-up rate, consideration can be given to promoting the family doctor model in Fujian throughout the country. Individual hesitation can be eliminated by increasing the reimbursement rate of health insurance, reducing the out-of-pocket expenses of contracted patients, and providing incentives of certain discounts for consecutive contracted patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zhao
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Gu
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Li
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyan Zhang
- Department of Health Education, Beijing Huairou Hospital of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Yang
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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Li X, Ye J, Feng J, Chen Q, Qu G, Wan Z, Lei Z, Ferrier A, Jiang H, Zheng Y, Gan Y. Willingness to maintain contracts with family doctors among Chinese residents: results from one national cross-sectional study and a meta-analysis of 25 studies. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1162824. [PMID: 38186714 PMCID: PMC10770837 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1162824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background A number of studies have investigated the influencing factors regarding the renewal of contracts associated with Family Doctor Contract Services (FDCS) in different regions of China since it was officially implemented in 2009; however, none of the previous studies have been considered using a nationally representative sample in combination with a meta-analysis. Methods A multistage stratified sampling method was used to investigate participants' socio-demographic characteristics, health status, understanding, use, and evaluation of the FDCS, and their willingness to renew contracts in Eastern, Central, and Western China from September to November 2021. We searched the PubMed, Ovid Medline, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, and SinoMed databases to retrieve previous studies related to the willingness of Chinese residents to renew contracts with their family doctor (FD), and a meta-analysis was performed to systematically summarize the willingness to maintain contracts and influencing factors. Results Among 2,394 residents, 2,122 (88.64%) were willing to renew their contracts. The mixed-effect logistic regression model results demonstrated that residents who (1) preferred primary health service institutions, (2) had a better knowledge of FDCS, (3) were more willing to visit primary health service after signing the contract with FDs, (4) were not intending to change FDs, (5) were satisfied with FDCS, and (6) trusted in FDs reported a higher level of willingness to maintain contracts with FDs. Our meta-analysis confirmed that older age, being married, having chronic diseases, choosing primary medical institutions for the first contact, having a good knowledge of FDCS/FDs, being satisfied with FDCS and the medical skills of FDs, and trusting FDs were all positively associated with residents' willingness to renew contracts (p < 0.05). Conclusion The willingness of consumers to maintain contracts with FDs in China varies in different areas. Giving priority services to groups of high need contributed to an improved rate of renewal. We suggest that in order to continue to increase annual contract renewal, it is necessary to strengthen consumer awareness through effective marketing and continue to work toward meeting consumer expectations, thereby increasing confidence and trust in FDCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyan Li
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jun Ye
- Department of Public Management, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Feng
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qiaosen Chen
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ge Qu
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhengyi Wan
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zihui Lei
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Adamm Ferrier
- Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Heng Jiang
- Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Yanling Zheng
- Department of General Practice, Shouyilu Street Community Health Service Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yong Gan
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Hempel S, Bolshakova M, Hochman M, Jimenez E, Thompson G, Motala A, Ganz DA, Gabrielian S, Edwards S, Zenner J, Dennis B, Chang E. Caring for high-need patients. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1289. [PMID: 37996845 PMCID: PMC10668484 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10236-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to explore the construct of "high need" and identify common need domains among high-need patients, their care professionals, and healthcare organizations; and to describe the interventions that health care systems use to address these needs, including exploring the potential unintended consequences of interventions. METHODS We conducted a modified Delphi panel informed by an environmental scan. Expert stakeholders included patients, interdisciplinary healthcare practitioners (physicians, social workers, peer navigators), implementation scientists, and policy makers. The environmental scan used a rapid literature review and semi-structured interviews with key informants who provide healthcare for high-need patients. We convened a day-long virtual panel meeting, preceded and followed by online surveys to establish consensus. RESULTS The environmental scan identified 46 systematic reviews on high-need patients, 19 empirical studies documenting needs, 14 intervention taxonomies, and 9 studies providing construct validity for the concept "high need." Panelists explored the construct and terminology and established that individual patients' needs are unique, but areas of commonality exist across all high-need patients. Panelists agreed on 11 domains describing patient (e.g., social circumstances), 5 care professional (e.g., communication), and 8 organizational (e.g., staffing arrangements) needs. Panelists developed a taxonomy of interventions with 15 categories (e.g., care navigation, care coordination, identification and monitoring) directed at patients, care professionals, or the organization. The project identified potentially unintended consequences of interventions for high-need patients, including high costs incurred for patients, increased time and effort for care professionals, and identification of needs without resources to respond appropriately. CONCLUSIONS Care for high-need patients requires a thoughtful approach; differentiating need domains provides multiple entry points for interventions directed at patients, care professionals, and organizations. Implementation efforts should consider outlined intended and unintended downstream effects on patients, care professionals, and organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Hempel
- Southern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
| | - Maria Bolshakova
- Southern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Michael Hochman
- Gehr Family Center for Health Systems Science and Innovation, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elvira Jimenez
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gina Thompson
- Southern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Aneesa Motala
- Southern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - David A Ganz
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - James Zenner
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ben Dennis
- Southern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Evelyn Chang
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Domnich A, Grassi R, Fallani E, Costantini G, Panatto D, Ogliastro M, Salvatore M, Cambiaggi M, Vasco A, Orsi A, Icardi G. Increasing Influenza Vaccination Uptake by Sending Reminders: A Representative Cross-Sectional Study on the Preferences of Italian Adults. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1601. [PMID: 37897002 PMCID: PMC10610822 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence from countries that achieved a high seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) coverage suggests that reminders to get vaccinated may increase SIV uptake. The goal of this study was to explore the experience and attitudes of Italian adults toward an active invitation to receive SIV, triggered by different sources and delivered via different communication channels, and to assess the projected benefits of this strategy. A cross-sectional survey on a representative sample of Italian adults was conducted by using computer-assisted web interviewing. Responses from 2513 subjects were analyzed. A total of 52.2% of individuals previously received invitations to undergo SIV and compared with people who did not receive any reminder were three times more likely (68.2% vs. 22.2%) to be vaccinated in the last season. Compared with other sources, reminders sent by general practitioners (GPs) were perceived as the most attractive. As for communication channels, most participants preferred text/instant messaging (24.6%) or email (27.2%), suggesting an acceleration in the Italian digital transformation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversely, traditional postal letters or phone calls were preferred by only 17.0% and 8.6% of respondents, respectively. Reminders sent by GPs via text/instant messages or email are a valuable option for increasing SIV uptake among Italian adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Domnich
- Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (A.O.); (G.I.)
| | | | - Elettra Fallani
- CSL Seqirus, 53035 Monteriggioni, Italy; (E.F.); (M.S.); (M.C.); (A.V.)
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | - Donatella Panatto
- Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (D.P.); (M.O.)
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible Infections (CIRI-IT), 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Matilde Ogliastro
- Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (D.P.); (M.O.)
| | - Marco Salvatore
- CSL Seqirus, 53035 Monteriggioni, Italy; (E.F.); (M.S.); (M.C.); (A.V.)
| | - Maura Cambiaggi
- CSL Seqirus, 53035 Monteriggioni, Italy; (E.F.); (M.S.); (M.C.); (A.V.)
| | - Alessandro Vasco
- CSL Seqirus, 53035 Monteriggioni, Italy; (E.F.); (M.S.); (M.C.); (A.V.)
| | - Andrea Orsi
- Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (A.O.); (G.I.)
- Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (D.P.); (M.O.)
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible Infections (CIRI-IT), 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Icardi
- Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (A.O.); (G.I.)
- Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (D.P.); (M.O.)
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible Infections (CIRI-IT), 16132 Genoa, Italy
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Lv B, Cui C, Feng X, Meng K. What factors affect Beijing residents' contracts with family doctors? A comparative study of Beijing's urban and suburban areas. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1159592. [PMID: 37483950 PMCID: PMC10356989 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1159592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To improve the health of residents and promote hierarchical diagnosis and treatment to achieve an orderly pattern of medical treatment, Beijing implemented family doctor contract services (FDCSs) in 2011. The aims of this study were to analyze the current status of Beijing residents' contracts with family doctors (FDs), compare the differences in contracting between urban and suburban residents, and explore the factors that affect residents' contract behavior. Methods From August 2020 to October 2020, a stratified sampling method was adopted to select residents from community health centers (CHCs) in districts D (urban area) and S (suburb) of Beijing to conduct a questionnaire survey. Chi-square tests, rank sum tests and logistic regression analyzes were used to analyze the current status and influencing factors of residents' contracting with FDs. Results A total of 4,113 valid questionnaires were included in the final analysis. District D was rich in medical resources, and the FD contract rate of residents there (93.09%) was significantly higher than that of residents in district S (78.06%; p < 0.05). Residents' district (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.18-2.05), understanding of FDCS policies (OR = 4.13, 95% CI = 3.63-4.69), preferred medical institutions (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.42-0.79 for tertiary hospitals in the district; OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.22-0.59 for urban medical institutions in Beijing), age, education level, average annual medical expenses and medical insurance type were factors that influenced residents' contracts with FDs (p < 0.05). Conclusion This study shows that residents who are located in districts with rich medical resources, prefer CHCs as their first choice, have a better understanding of FDCS policies, and are more inclined to contract with FDs than other residents. It is recommended that the number and quality of FDs in suburban areas be increased and that medical staff strengthen publicity about FDCSs and actively encourage residents to contract with FDs.
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Lim AH, Ng SW, Teh XR, Ong SM, Sivasampu S, Lim KK. Conjoint analyses of patients’ preferences for primary care: a systematic review. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2022; 23:234. [PMID: 36085032 PMCID: PMC9463739 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-022-01822-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
While patients’ preferences in primary care have been examined in numerous conjoint analyses, there has been little systematic effort to synthesise the findings. This review aimed to identify, to organise and to assess the strength of evidence for the attributes and factors associated with preference heterogeneity in conjoint analyses for primary care outpatient visits.
Methods
We searched five bibliographic databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Econlit and Scopus) from inception until 15 December 2021, complemented by hand-searching. We included conjoint analyses for primary care outpatient visits. Two reviewers independently screened papers for inclusion and assessed the quality of all included studies using the checklist by ISPOR Task Force for Conjoint Analysis. We categorized the attributes of primary care based on Primary Care Monitoring System framework and factors based on Andersen’s Behavioural Model of Health Services Use. We then assessed the strength of evidence and direction of preference for the attributes of primary care, and factors affecting preference heterogeneity based on study quality and consistency in findings.
Results
Of 35 included studies, most (82.4%) were performed in high-income countries. Each study examined 3–8 attributes, mainly identified through literature reviews (n = 25). Only six examined visits for chronic conditions, with the rest on acute or non-specific / other conditions. Process attributes were more commonly examined than structure or outcome attributes. The three most commonly examined attributes were waiting time for appointment, out-of-pocket costs and ability to choose the providers they see. We identified 24/58 attributes with strong or moderate evidence of association with primary care uptake (e.g., various waiting times, out-of-pocket costs) and 4/43 factors with strong evidence of affecting preference heterogeneity (e.g., age, gender).
Conclusions
We found 35 conjoint analyses examining 58 attributes of primary care and 43 factors that potentially affect the preference of these attributes. The attributes and factors, stratified into evidence levels based on study quality and consistency, can guide the design of research or policies to improve patients’ uptake of primary care. We recommend future conjoint analyses to specify the types of visits and to define their attributes clearly, to facilitate consistent understanding among respondents and the design of interventions targeting them.
Word Count: 346/350 words.
Trial registration
On Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/m7ts9
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Williamson M, Barr ML, Kabir A, Comino EJ, Goodger B, Harris‐Roxas BF, Crozier A, Jackson T, Finch J, Harris MF. Frequent users of health services among community‐based older Australians: Characteristics and association with mortality. Australas J Ageing 2022; 41:e328-e338. [PMID: 35761510 PMCID: PMC10084303 DOI: 10.1111/ajag.13110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate characteristics of frequent users of general practice (GP; ≥21 visits in a year), medical specialist (≥10 visits), emergency department (ED; ≥2 presentations) and hospital services (≥2 overnight hospitalisations) and the association with mortality for people aged over 75 years. METHODS The study included residents from Central and Eastern Sydney, Australia, aged over 75 years who participated in a large community-dwelling cohort study. Demographic, social and health characteristics data were extracted from the 45 and Up Study survey. Health service (GP, medical specialist, ED and hospitalisations) use and mortality data were extracted from linked administrative data. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios to identify independent characteristics associated with frequent users of services at baseline (approx. 2008) and adjusted hazard ratios to assess the association between frequent users of services and mortality. RESULTS Frequent users of services (GPs, medical specialists, EDs and hospitals) were more likely to be associated with ever having had heart disease and less likely to be associated with reporting good quality of life. Characteristics varied by service type. Frequent users of services were 1.5-2.0 times more likely to die within 7 years compared to those who were less frequent service users after controlling for all significant factors. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis found that frequent service users aged over 75 years had poorer quality of life, more complex health conditions and higher mortality and so their health service use was not inappropriate. However, better management of these frequent service users may lead to better health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Williamson
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Primary Health Care and EquityUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Margo Linn Barr
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Primary Health Care and EquityUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Alamgir Kabir
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Primary Health Care and EquityUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Elizabeth Jane Comino
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Primary Health Care and EquityUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Brendan Goodger
- Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health NetworkSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Ben F. Harris‐Roxas
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Population HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Ann‐Marie Crozier
- Sydney Local Health District, New South Wales HealthSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Tony Jackson
- South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, New South Wales HealthSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Julie Finch
- Sydney Local Health District, New South Wales HealthSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Mark Fort Harris
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Primary Health Care and EquityUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSWAustralia
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Christopher C, KC B, Shrestha S, Blebil AQ, Alex D, Mohamed Ibrahim MI, Ismail N. Medication use problems among older adults at a primary care: A narrative of literature review. Aging Med (Milton) 2022; 5:126-137. [PMID: 35783113 PMCID: PMC9245166 DOI: 10.1002/agm2.12203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Appropriate medication use is one of the most significant challenges among the older population. Although medication use problems are well documented at the secondary and tertiary health care level, the evidence at the primary care level of OECD region is limited. A narrative review of existing literature was conducted through a nonsystematic search for original articles through electronic search databases, Ovid Medline, Google Scholar from 2001 to 2021, and a combination of citation references. Medication use problems are prevalent in older adults at the primary care level. The main issues of medication use identified were as follows; nonadherence, adverse drug events, accessibility, polypharmacy, inappropriate medications, belief about medications, lack of knowledge and awareness, and lack of deprescribing. In addition, the current review has identified the possibilities of the problems: many medications, forgetfulness, lack of deprescribing, lack of communication, poor understanding, and limited awareness of inappropriate medications. This review found that various medication use problems subclusters were identified to impact the health care need among older adults. Therefore, effective interventions targeting these issues need to be developed to reduce medication use problems among older adults at a primary care level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bhuvan KC
- School of PharmacyMonash University MalaysiaSubang JayaMalaysia
| | - Sunil Shrestha
- School of PharmacyMonash University MalaysiaSubang JayaMalaysia
| | - Ali Qais Blebil
- School of PharmacyMonash University MalaysiaSubang JayaMalaysia
| | - Deepa Alex
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaSubang JayaMalaysia
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Nie Z, Chen C, Chen G, Wang C, Gan Y, Feng Y, Lu Z. Development and Validation of a Model to Predict the Contract Service of Family Doctor: A National Survey in China. Front Public Health 2022; 10:750722. [PMID: 35548082 PMCID: PMC9082311 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.750722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have reported a relatively low utilization of family doctor contract services (FDCS) in China, while the associated factors are unknown. The current study aimed to explore the factors associated with the utilization of FDCS, and then developed and validated a predictive model based on these identified factors. Methods We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire, from March 2019 to April of 2019. Routinely collected variables in daily practice by family doctors were used to develop a derivation model to determine the factors associated with FDCS utilization, and then the external performance of the model was tested. Results A total of 115,717 and 49,593 participants were included in the development and validation datasets, respectively. Nearly 6.8% of the participants who signed a contract with FDCS received healthcare services from family doctors in China. Factors associated with the utilization of FDCS included age, male sex, self-reported household income, education attainment, insurance status, self-reported health status, smoking, drinking, self-reported physical activity status, chronic disease, walking distance from the nearest community center, and illness in the last 2 weeks, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.660 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.653–0.667] and good calibration. Application of this nomogram in the validation dataset also showed acceptable diagnostic value with an AUC of 0.659 (95% CI, 0.649–0.669) and good calibration. Conclusion Twelve easily obtainable factors in daily practice of family doctors were used to develop a model to predict the utilization of FDCS, with a moderate performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Nie
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Department of Cardiology, Hypertension Research Laboratory, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Respiratory, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guo Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Hypertension Research Laboratory, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong Gan
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingqing Feng
- Department of Cardiology, Hypertension Research Laboratory, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zuxun Lu
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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11
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Buczak-Stec EW, Hajek A, van den Bussche H, Eisele M, Oey A, Wiese B, Weyerer S, Werle J, Fuchs A, Pentzek M, Luppa M, Löbner M, Weeg D, Mösch E, Heser K, Wagner M, Riedel-Heller SG, Maier W, Scherer M, König HH. Factors Contributing to Persistent Frequent Attendance in Primary Care Among the Oldest Old: Longitudinal Evidence From the AgeCoDe-AgeQualiDe Study. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:815419. [PMID: 35386909 PMCID: PMC8977578 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.815419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Since there is a lack of longitudinal studies in this area, our aim was to identify the determinants of persistent frequent attendance in primary care among the oldest old in Germany. Methods Longitudinal data (follow-up wave 7-9) were taken from the multicenter prospective cohort "Study on needs, health service use, costs, and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest-old primary care patients (85+)" (AgeQualiDe), covering primary care patients ≥ 85 years (FU7 n = 741, mean age 88.9 years (SD 2.9; 85-100)). Persistent frequent attenders of general practitioner (GP) services (the patients in the top decile of the number of GP consultations in two or more consecutive waves) were our main outcome of interest. Logistic random-effects models were used. Results Our analysis included 1,891 observations (766 individuals). Across three waves, we identified 56 persistent frequent attenders. Results of random-effects logistic regressions showed that the odds of being persistent frequent attender were higher for widowed individuals (OR = 4.57; 95% CI [1.07-19.45]). Moreover, a one-point increase in the frailty score and having one more chronic condition increased the odds of being a persistent frequent attender by 68% (OR =1.68; 95% CI [1.05-2.69]) and 23% (OR=1.23, 95% CI [1.05-1.44]), respectively. Conclusion Our study stressed the longitudinal association between frailty and widowhood as well as chronic diseases and persistent frequent attendance among the oldest old in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elżbieta W Buczak-Stec
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hendrik van den Bussche
- Department of General Practice and Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marion Eisele
- Department of General Practice and Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anke Oey
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of General Practice, Hanover, Germany
| | - Birgitt Wiese
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of General Practice, Hanover, Germany
| | - Siegfried Weyerer
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jochen Werle
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Angela Fuchs
- Medical Faculty, Institute of General Practice, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Pentzek
- Medical Faculty, Institute of General Practice, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Melanie Luppa
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Margit Löbner
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dagmar Weeg
- Department of Psychiatry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Edelgard Mösch
- Department of Psychiatry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Heser
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Wagner
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Steffi G Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Maier
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Martin Scherer
- Department of General Practice and Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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12
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Serour M, Al-Weqayyan A, Almazeedi H, Al-Fedhala H, Bahroh A, Aljadi F, AlHilali M. Why parents bring their children with minor health problems to their family practitioners: An unmatched case-control study. J Family Med Prim Care 2021; 10:3725-3731. [PMID: 34934672 PMCID: PMC8653473 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_717_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Parents' of young children who frequently attend primary health care (PHC) services for mild health problems (MHPs) can present a complex and difficult challenge for staff. This phenomenon can expose the child to inappropriate overprescribing, unnecessary medical interventions and may impair the quality of life of parents and children. Aim: To define driving factors for frequent attenders (FAs) preschool children in PHC services in Kuwait. Design and Setting: An unmatched case-control study was conducted in the PHC setting in Kuwait. Method: A sample comprised of 300 parents from 10 PHC centres was selected. The top third children with higher frequency (FAs) visits to their family practitioners (FPs) were compared with the lower third with lower frequency (NFAs) visits to their FPs during the same duration. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ) was used to assess parents' response to their children's illness. The sociodemographic data for both groups were collected. Culture and background heath status for child and family were collected (order of the child in the family, if the family is living with the extended family and additional help received regarding childcare). The previous medical history of parent, child, and siblings was also included. Results: The mean number of consultations in FAs versus NFAs within the previous year was 15.5 ± 7.6 and 4.3 ± 2.1, respectively. There was no significant difference in means between the two groups of parents in responses to the questions of the adapted Brief IPQ. FAs were more likely to be the first-order child (odds ratio (OR) 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.2–4.6), have chronic disease (OR 4.7; 95% CI = 2.1–10.6), and live with the extended family (OR 1.8; 95% CI = 1.1–3.3). They experienced an acute, potentially life-threatening episode previously (OR 2.6; 95% CI = 1.1–6.4), with the same applying to a sibling (OR 72.6; 1.2–6.2) or parent (OR 2.6; CI = 1.1–6.4). Conclusion: Identification of the hidden reasons that affect parents' decisions to consult their FPs frequently for their children's MHPs were important predictors for defining preschool FAs children in the PHC centres and can help the staff provide effective management plans to help them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maleka Serour
- Research Committee, Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization, Kuwait
| | - Adnan Al-Weqayyan
- Central Department of Primary Health Care Al Solabeykhat, Kuwait Ministry of Health, Kuwait
| | - Hind Almazeedi
- Abdulla Al Mabark Health Center, Kuwait Ministry of Health, Kuwait
| | - Hanan Al-Fedhala
- Abdulla Al Mabark Health Center, Kuwait Ministry of Health, Kuwait
| | - Ahmed Bahroh
- Abdulla Al Mabark Health Center, Kuwait Ministry of Health, Kuwait
| | - Fatma Aljadi
- Alzahraa Specialty Health Center, Kuwait Ministry of Health, Kuwait
| | - Mohammed AlHilali
- Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Health Education England North East, UK
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13
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Kontopantelis E, Panagioti M, Farragher T, Munford LA, Parisi R, Planner C, Spooner S, Tse A, Ashcroft DM, Esmail A. Consultation patterns and frequent attenders in UK primary care from 2000 to 2019: a retrospective cohort analysis of consultation events across 845 general practices. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e054666. [PMID: 34930742 PMCID: PMC8718478 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the distribution of consultations at the practice level and examine whether increases are uniform or driven by people who consult more frequently. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING UK general practice data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD database. PARTICIPANTS 1 699 709 314 consultation events from 12 330 545 patients, in 845 general practices (1 April 2000 to 31 March 2019). METHODS Consultation information was aggregated by financial year into: all consultations/all staff; all consultations/general practitioners (GPs); face-to-face consultations/all staff; face-to-face consultations/GPs. Patients with a number of consultations above the 90th centile, within each year, were classified as frequent attenders. Negative binomial regressions examined the association between available practice characteristics and consultation distribution. RESULTS Among frequent attenders, all consultations by GPs increased from a median (25th and 75th centile) of 13 (10 and 16) to 21 (18 and 25) and all consultations by all staff increased from 27 (23-30) to 60 (51-69) over the study period. Approximately four out of ten consultations of any type concerned frequent attenders and the proportion of consultations attributed to them increased over time, particularly for face-to-face consultations with GPs, from a median of 38.0% (35.9%-40.3%) in 2000-2001 to 43.0% (40.6%-46.4%) in 2018-2019. Regression analyses indicated decreasing trends over time for face-to-face consultations and increasing trends for all consultation types, for both GPs and all staff. Frequent attenders consulted approximately five times more than the rest of the practice population, on average, with adjusted incidence rate ratios ranging between 4.992 (95% CI 4.917 to 5.068) for face-to-face consultations with all staff and 5.603 (95% CI 5.560 to 5.647) for all consultations with GPs. CONCLUSIONS Frequent attenders progressively contributed to increased workload in general practices across the UK from 2000 to 2019. Important knowledge gaps remain in terms of the demographic, social and health characteristics of frequent attenders and how UK general practices can be prepared to meet the needs of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Kontopantelis
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research, Oxford, UK
| | - Maria Panagioti
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Tracey Farragher
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Luke A Munford
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rosa Parisi
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research, Oxford, UK
| | - Claire Planner
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research, Oxford, UK
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sharon Spooner
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Health Organisation, Policy and Economics (HOPE) Group, Centre for Primary Care & Health Services Research, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Alice Tse
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Darren M Ashcroft
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Aneez Esmail
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research, Oxford, UK
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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14
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Li N, Shou J. Risk factors for the frequent attendance of older patients at community health service centers in China: a cross-sectional study based on stratified sampling. BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2021; 22:221. [PMID: 34772360 PMCID: PMC8589087 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01575-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of frequent attenders (FAs) among older patients in Shanghai, China, and explore the associated factors. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in six community health service centers in Shanghai, China, from August to December 2018 based on stratified sampling. On the basis of our preliminary study, FAs were defined as those attending at least four consultations in a month. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the clinicodemographic data of the participants. Social support, pain severity, depression, and anxiety were evaluated using the Social Support Revalued Scale, six-point Behavioral Rating Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire–9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, respectively. Results This study included 619 patients aged > 60 years. Among these patients, 155 (25%) were FAs to a community health service center, 366 (59.1%) had 1 or 2 chronic diseases, 179 (28.9%) had ≥3 chronic diseases, 313 (50.4%) opted for a family doctor service, and 537 (86.8%) chose a community health service center for the first consultation. The following were identified as independent risk factors for frequent attendance: widowed status, unmarried status, the presence of > 3 chronic diseases, first consultation at a community health service center, high medical expenses, frequent attendance of the spouses, long-term medication, the use of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine services, and depression. Conclusions This study summarizes the characteristics of older FAs to community health service centers in China and identifies 10 risk factors significantly associated with frequent attendance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Li
- General Practice Department, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Juan Shou
- General Practice Department, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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15
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Hammerman O, Halperin D, Tsalihin D, Greenberg D, Kushnir T, Ezra Y. Characteristics and economic burden of frequent attenders with medically unexplained symptoms in primary care in Israel. Eur J Gen Pract 2021; 27:294-302. [PMID: 34633891 PMCID: PMC8510588 DOI: 10.1080/13814788.2021.1985997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Frequent Attenders with Medically Unexplained Symptoms (FA/MUS) are common in primary care, though challenging to identify and treat. Objectives This study sought to compare FA/MUS to FA with organic illnesses (FA/OI) and the general clinic population (Non-FA) to understand their demographic characteristics and healthcare utilisation patterns. Methods For this retrospective, observational study, Electronic Medical Records (EMR) were obtained from Clalit Health Services, regarding the population of a sizeable primary care clinic in Be’er-Sheva, Israel. Electronic medical records were screened to identify the top 5% of FA. FA were stratified based on whether they had OI. FA without OI were then corroborated as having MUS by their physicians. Demographics, healthcare utilisation and costs were analysed for FA/OI, FA/MUS and Non-FA. Results Out of 594 FA, 305 (53.6%) were FA/OI and 264 (46.4%) were FA/MUS. FA/OI were older (69.1 vs. 56.4 years, p<.001) and costlier (ILS27693 vs. ILS9075, p<.001) than FA/MUS. Average costs for FA/MUS were over four times higher than Non-FA (ILS9075 vs. ILS2035, p<.001). The largest disparities between FA/OI and FA/MUS were in hospitalisations (ILS6998 vs. ILS2033) and surgical procedures (ILS8143 vs. ILS3175). Regarding laboratory tests, differences were smaller between groups of FA but significantly different between FA and Non-FA. Conclusion FA/MUS are more costly than Non-FA and exhibit unique healthcare utilisation and costs patterns. FA/OI had more severe illnesses necessitating hospitalisations and surgical interventions, while FA/MUS had more investigations and tests, attempting to find an explanation for their symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oded Hammerman
- Department of Neurology, Soroka Medical Center, Be'er-Sheva, Israel.,Department of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Daniel Halperin
- Soroka Clinical Research Center, Soroka Medical Center, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Daniel Tsalihin
- Yud Alef Clinic, Clalit Health Services, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Dan Greenberg
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Talma Kushnir
- Department of Psychology and Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yacov Ezra
- Department of Neurology, Soroka Medical Center, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
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16
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Hajek A, König HH. Self-perceptions of ageing, GP visits and frequent attendance. Longitudinal findings from the German Ageing Survey. Aging Ment Health 2021; 25:1493-1498. [PMID: 32189524 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2020.1742659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to clarify the link between self-perceptions of ageing and the number of general practitioner (GP) visits, as well as frequent GP visits, longitudinally. METHODS In this study, longitudinal data with n = 7,062 observations from 2014 (wave 5) to 2017 (wave 6) were taken from the German Ageing Survey (representative sample of middle aged and older individuals residing in private households). The five-item Attitudes Toward Own Ageing subscale of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS) was used to quantify self-perceptions of ageing. The frequency of GP visits in the past 12 months served as outcome measure (first model: measured continuously; second model: top 10% were defined as frequent attenders). To exploit the features of panel data, and to mitigate the problem of unobserved heterogeneity, fixed effects regressions were used. RESULTS Adjusting for predisposing characteristics, enabling resources and need-factors, regressions showed that an increase in self-perceptions of ageing was associated with decreases in the number of GP visits (IRR= .83 (95% CI: .77-.91)), and a decreased likelihood of becoming a frequent attender (OR= .44 (95% CI: .29-.66)). CONCLUSIONS Using data from a longitudinal study and exploiting the longitudinal data structure, the current study adds to our current knowledge by demonstrating that self-perceptions of ageing contribute to the frequency of GP visits as well as frequent attendance. Since self-perceptions of ageing are modifiable, this may help to manage health care use.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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17
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Cymes I, Jalali R, Glińska-Lewczuk K, Dragańska E, Giergielewicz-Januszko B, Romaszko J. The association between the biometeorological indicators and emergency interventions due to fainting: A retrospective cohort study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 770:145376. [PMID: 33736408 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The association of fainting with specific situations and circumstances, such as the sight of blood, response to pain, prolonged standing position and fatigue, is well recognized and described in medical literature. Clinical experience also indicates that specific, local physical conditions, such as exposure to heat or remaining in a small, stuffy room may also trigger fainting. This paper verifies the hypothesis concerning the association between atmospheric conditions and the incidence of fainting. This is a retrospective cohort study of data relating to fainting collected in the city of Olsztyn (Poland). In total, 10,449 emergency service interventions in the period 2012-2019 that concluded with the R55 (syncope and collapse) diagnosis according to the ICD 10 were analyzed. The obtained data were matched with meteorological data, including basic parameters (temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure) and complex parameters, with special attention given to the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). This index is derived from an analysis of human thermal balance and is particularly useful for describing the organism's response to thermal stress. Statistically significant differences in the occurrences of fainting depending on the season were revealed (more in the summer), but only for women. Among the analyzed meteorological and biometeorological parameters, statistical significance was found for parameters relating to temperature, with the greatest usefulness revealed for the UTCI. Periods with heat stress were more conducive to fainting, whereas the result for the general population was influenced by women in two age groups: 25-45 and 46-60. To our best knowledge, this is the first attempt worldwide to utilize the UTCI as a predictor of fainting. Our results confirmed the applicability of the UTCI as a universal biometeorological tool for the assessment of relationships between atmospheric conditions and the incidence of fainting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwona Cymes
- Department of Water Resources and Climatology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Rakesh Jalali
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | | | - Ewa Dragańska
- Department of Water Resources and Climatology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Beata Giergielewicz-Januszko
- School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Jerzy Romaszko
- School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
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18
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Residents' Willingness to Maintain Contracts with Family Doctors: a Cross-sectional Study in China. J Gen Intern Med 2021; 36:622-631. [PMID: 33140279 PMCID: PMC7947157 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-020-06306-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most previous studies of the family doctor contract services (FDCS) evaluated its quality by using residents' signing rates, awareness, and satisfaction. We hypothesize that renewal willingness could be another important indicator to examine the quality of FDCS. OBJECTIVE To measure residents' willingness to maintain contracts with family doctors and examine the influencing factors. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS 11,250 residents in 31 provincial administrative regions across China. MAIN METHODS A multistage stratified random sampling method was used to recruit participants. Univariate analysis, mixed-effect regression model analysis, and stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the influencing factors of residents' willingness to maintain contracts with family doctors. KEY RESULTS About 71.3% participants who contracted with and received healthcare services from family doctors were willing to maintain contracts with family doctors in China. Residents registering as local households (OR = 1.192, 95% CI = 1.039-1.368), enrolled in medical insurance (OR = 1.299, 95% CI = 1.011-1.668), reporting better health (OR = 1.246, 95% CI = 1.100-1.413), with shorter walking time to the nearest healthcare center (compared with > 30 min walking time, < 15 min: OR = 1.209, 95% CI = 1.003-1.458; 15-30 min: OR = 1.288, 95% CI = 1.124-1.475), and trusting in (OR = 4.403, 95% CI = 3.849-5.036) and satisfied with (OR = 18.514, 95% CI = 16.195-21.165) their family doctors had significantly higher willingness to maintain contracts with family doctors. CONCLUSIONS Residents' willingness to maintain contracts with family doctors could be another evaluation indicator of the quality of FDCS in China. Improving the accessibility and quality of healthcare services from family doctors may increase residents' willingness to keep contracts with family doctors and promote the implementation of FDCS.
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19
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Hajek A, Kretzler B, König HH. Determinants of Frequent Attendance in Primary Care. A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:595674. [PMID: 33634146 PMCID: PMC7901229 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.595674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: There is a lack of a systematic review synthesizing longitudinal studies investigating the determinants of frequent attendance in primary care. The goal of our systematic review was to fill this gap in knowledge. Methods: Three electronic databases (Medline, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) were searched. Longitudinal observational studies analyzing the predictors of frequent attendance in primary care were included. Data extraction covered methods, sample characteristics, and main findings. Selection of the studies, extracting the data and evaluation of study quality was performed by two reviewers. In the results section, the determinants of frequent attendance were presented based on the (extended) Andersen model. Results: In total, 11 longitudinal studies have been included in our systematic review. The majority of studies showed that frequent attendance was positively associated with the predisposing characteristics lower age, and unemployment. Moreover, it was mainly not associated with enabling resources. Most of the studies showed that need factors, and in particular worse self-rated health, lower physical functioning and physical illnesses were associated with an increased likelihood of frequent attendance. While most studies were of good quality, several of the included studies did not perform sensitivity analysis or described how they dealt with missing data. Discussion: Our systematic review showed that particularly lower age, unemployment and need factors are associated with the likelihood of becoming a frequent attender. Enabling resources are mainly not associated with the outcome measure. Future research should concentrate on the determinants of persistent frequent attendance due to the high economic burden associated with it.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Benedikt Kretzler
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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20
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Buczak-Stec E, Hajek A, van den Bussche H, Eisele M, Wiese B, Mamone S, Weyerer S, Werle J, Fuchs A, Pentzek M, Röhr S, Welzel F, Weeg D, Mösch E, Heser K, Wagner M, Riedel-Heller SG, Maier W, Scherer M, König HH. Frequent attendance in primary care in the oldest old: evidence from the AgeCoDe-AgeQualiDe study. Aging Clin Exp Res 2020; 32:2629-2638. [PMID: 32108287 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-020-01495-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are very few studies examining the determinants of frequent attendance in primary care among the oldest old. AIMS The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of frequent attendance among individuals aged 85 years or older. METHODS Cross-sectional data stem from the multicenter prospective cohort "Study on needs, health service use, costs and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest old primary care patients (85 +)" (AgeQualiDe). This study covers very old primary care patients (n = 861, mean age of 89.0 years ± 2.9; 85-100 years). The number of self-reported GP visits in the preceding 3 months was used to quantify frequent attenders. We defined patients in the top decile as frequent attenders. RESULTS Multiple logistic regressions showed that frequent attendance was associated with more chronic diseases (adjusted OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01-1.23), worse functioning (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99), worries about one's financial situation (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.07-4.53) and it was inversely associated with depression (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.80). DISCUSSION In contrast to studies based on younger samples, different factors were associated with frequent users in our study, showing that it is important to study the determinants of frequent attendance among the oldest old. CONCLUSION In Germany, among the group of the oldest old, frequent attendance was positively associated with worse physical health status (e.g., number of chronic diseases), but negatively with depression. This might indicate that the German health care system is responsive to the physical, but not psychological needs of the oldest old.
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The Association of Post-Materialism with Health Care Use. Findings of a General Population Survey in Germany. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17238869. [PMID: 33260640 PMCID: PMC7730980 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17238869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
(1) The aim of this study was to identify the association between post-materialism and health care use (in terms of the frequency of doctor visits and the reason for doctor visits). (2) Data were taken from the German General Social Survey (a representative sample of individuals aged 18 years and over, n = 3338). The Inglehart's post-materialist index was used to quantify post-materialism. The doctor visits (self-reported) in the past three months served as an outcome measure. The reasons for seeing a doctor served as an additional outcome measure (acute illness; chronic illness; feeling unwell; requesting advice; visit to the doctor's office without consulting the doctor (e.g., need to get a prescription); preventive medical check-up/vaccination). (3) After adjusting for several covariates, negative binomial regressions revealed that compared with materialism, post-materialism was associated with decreased doctor visits (total sample; women). Moreover, the likelihood of visiting the doctor for reasons of chronic illnesses was lower in post-materialistic women, whereas the likelihood of visiting the doctor for reasons of preventive medical check-up/vaccination was higher in post-materialistic women. (4) Study findings identify an unexplored link between post-materialism and doctor visits in women. One may conclude that in the long-term, the increased likelihood of preventive medical check-ups in post-materialistic women will be beneficial in decreasing the need for doctor visits for reasons of chronic illnesses. However, future research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
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Wang C, Cheng SF, Hung JL, Tang PL. Highly frequent utilization of outpatient services in a national health insurance system - analysis of associated factors and underlying co-morbidity. Curr Med Res Opin 2020; 36:1761-1767. [PMID: 33017273 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2020.1832057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify associated factors of highly frequent use of outpatient services and explore how they were impacted to provide policy references for government and medical institutes in their efforts to seek provision of reasonable medical services, continuous care and integrated outpatient services. METHODS The Taiwanese national health insurance database was used and 661,125 patients were identified in 2009. The patients with ≥100 internal medicine outpatient (IMO) visits were defined as the highly frequent group and they were matched at a ratio of 1:4 with patients of 1-99 IMO visits based on demographic characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS Among 1 million patients in the outpatient department, 0.05% had at least 100 visits. These patients with highly frequent IMO visits had significantly higher rates of emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalization, psychiatric disorders and possession of a catastrophic illness card as well as a significantly lower level of continuity of care index (COCI). Multivariate analysis showed that ED visits (adjusted OR [AOR] = 1.63), psychiatric disorders (AOR = 7.13), low COCI (AOR = 1.69), and several comorbidities including peripheral vascular diseases (AOR = 4.33), dementia (AOR = 0.04), chronic pulmonary disease (AOR = 3.02), peptic ulcer diseases (AOR = 3.70), diabetes mellitus (AOR = 3.45) and renal disease (AOR = 2.43) were significant associated factors. CONCLUSIONS To rationalize use and distribution of medical resources, we suggest proper regular care and health education to those with mental disabilities and multiple chronic conditions, which may not only improve the situation of highly frequent hospital visits but also effectively control incidence of acute conditions and reduce their ED visits. In addition, improving the continuity of care is vital, and the best way to do this is to promote family medicine as the primary form of healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Wang
- Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Nursing, Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Su-Fen Cheng
- Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jui-Lan Hung
- Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Pei-Ling Tang
- Research Center of Medical Informatics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Health-Business Administration, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
- College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
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Hajek A, Kretzler B, König HH. Personality, Healthcare Use and Costs-A Systematic Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2020; 8:healthcare8030329. [PMID: 32916927 PMCID: PMC7551177 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare8030329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thus far, there is a lack of a systematic review synthesizing empirical studies that analyze the link between personality factors and healthcare use (HCU) or costs. Consequently, the purpose of our systematic review is to give an overview of empirical findings from observational studies examining the association between personality factors and HCU or costs. METHODS PubMed, PsycINFO, and NHS EED (NHS Economic Evaluation Database) were searched. Observational studies examining the association between personality factors and HCU costs by using validated tools were included. Two reviewers performed study selection and data extraction and evaluated the study quality. Findings were synthesized qualitatively. RESULTS In total, n = 15 studies (HCU, n = 14; cost studies, n = 1) were included in the final synthesis. A few studies point to an association between conscientiousness and HCU (with mixed evidence). Some more evidence was found for an association between higher agreeableness, higher extraversion, and higher openness to experience and increased HCU. The majority of studies analyzed found a link between higher neuroticism and increased HCU. CONCLUSION Personality factors, and particularly neuroticism, are associated with HCU. This knowledge is important to manage healthcare use. However, future research based on longitudinal data and studies investigating the link between personality characteristics and costs are required.
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Children as frequent attenders in primary care: a systematic review. BJGP Open 2020; 4:bjgpopen20X101076. [PMID: 32873539 PMCID: PMC7606143 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpopen20x101076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Frequent paediatric attendances make up a large proportion of a GP's workload. Currently, there is no systematic review on frequent paediatric attendances in primary care. Aim To identify the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children who attend primary care frequently. Design & setting A systematic review. Method The electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched up to January 2020, using terms relating to frequent attendance in primary care settings. Studies were eligible if they considered children frequently attending in primary care (aged 0–19 years). Relevant data were extracted and analysed by narrative synthesis. Results Six studies, of fair quality overall, were included in the review. Frequent attendance was associated with presence of psychosocial and mental health problems, younger age, school absence, presence of chronic conditions, and high level of anxiety in their parents. Conclusion Various sociodemographic and medical characteristics of children were associated with frequent attendance in primary care. Research on interventions needs to account for the social context and community characteristics. Integrating GP services with mental health and social care could potentially provide a response to medical and psychosocial needs of frequently attending children and their families.
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Hajek A, Brettschneider C, Röhr S, Gühne U, van der Leeden C, Lühmann D, Mamone S, Wiese B, Weyerer S, Werle J, Fuchs A, Pentzek M, Weeg D, Mösch E, Heser K, Wagner M, Maier W, Riedel-Heller SG, Scherer M, König HH. Which Factors Contribute to Frailty among the Oldest Old? Results of the Multicentre Prospective AgeCoDe and AgeQualiDe Study. Gerontology 2020; 66:460-466. [PMID: 32634802 DOI: 10.1159/000508723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is a lack of studies investigating the link between time-varying factors associated with changes in frailty scores in very old age longitudinally. This is important because the level of frailty is associated with subsequent morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE To examine time-dependent predictors of frailty among the oldest old using a longitudinal approach. METHODS Longitudinal data were drawn from the multicentre prospective cohort study "Study on Needs, health service use, costs and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest-old primary care patients (85+)" (AgeQualiDe), covering primary care patients aged 85 years and over. Three waves were used (from follow-up, FU, wave 7 to FU wave 9 [with 10 months between each wave]; 1,301 observations in the analytical sample). Frailty was assessed using the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). As explanatory variables, we included sociodemographic factors (marital status and age), social isolation as well as health-related variables (depression, dementia, and chronic diseases) in a regression analysis. RESULTS In total, 18.9% of the individuals were mildly frail, 12.4% of the individuals were moderately frail, and 0.4% of the individuals were severely frail at FU wave 7. Fixed effects regressions revealed that increases in frailty were associated with increases in age (β = 0.23, p < 0.001), and dementia (β = 0.84, p < 0.01), as well as increases in chronic conditions (β = 0.03, p = 0.058). CONCLUSION The study findings particularly emphasize the importance of changes in age, probably chronic conditions as well as dementia for frailty. Future research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, future longitudinal studies based on panel regression models are required to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany,
| | - Christian Brettschneider
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Röhr
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uta Gühne
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carolin van der Leeden
- Department of Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dagmar Lühmann
- Department of Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Silke Mamone
- Institute of General Practice, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Birgitt Wiese
- Institute of General Practice, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Siegfried Weyerer
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jochen Werle
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Angela Fuchs
- Institute of General Practice, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Pentzek
- Institute of General Practice, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dagmar Weeg
- Department of Psychiatry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Edelgard Mösch
- Department of Psychiatry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Heser
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Wagner
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Maier
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Steffi G Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Scherer
- Department of Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Determinants of Frequent Attendance in Primary Care. Study Protocol for a Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17103710. [PMID: 32466103 PMCID: PMC7277920 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Thus far, no study has systematically synthesized longitudinal studies investigating the determinants of frequent attendance in primary care. Consequently, the purpose of our systematic review is to give an overview of evidence based on longitudinal observational studies analyzing the determinants of frequent attendance. Three electronic databases (Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL) will be searched. Moreover, the reference lists of studies included in our systematic review will be searched manually. Longitudinal observational studies examining the determinants of frequent attendance in primary care will be included. Disease-specific samples will be excluded. Data extraction focuses on methods (e.g., measurement of frequent attendance, statistical analysis), characteristics of the sample and key results. Furthermore, the quality of the studies included will be examined using an appropriate tool. Two reviewers will perform study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. A meta-analysis will be conducted (if possible).
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Valdez R, Aarabi G, Spinler K, Walther C, Seedorf U, Heydecke G, Buczak-Stec E, König HH, Hajek A. Association between Subjective Well-Being and Frequent Dental Visits in the German Ageing Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17093207. [PMID: 32380743 PMCID: PMC7246676 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17093207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between subjective well-being (SWB) and frequent attendance is understudied. This study used data from a large German sample of non-institutionalized individuals aged 40+ in 2014 (n = 7264). SWB was measured using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Number of self-reported dental visits in the past twelve months was used to measure the utilization frequency of dental services. Individuals with at least four dental visits in the preceding year (highest decile) were defined as frequent dental visits. Robustness checks were performed using alternative cut-offs to define frequent dental visits. Multiple logistic regressions showed that frequent dental visits (highest decile) were associated with less satisfaction with life [OR: 0.89, 95%-CI: 0.80–0.99] and higher negative affect [OR: 1.41, 95%-CI: 1.22–1.64], whereas it was not significantly associated with positive affect. Both associations depended on the cut-off chosen to define frequent dental visits. The present study highlights the association between SWB (particularly negative affect and low life satisfaction) and frequent dental visits. Further studies evaluating patients’ motivation for high dental service use are necessary to check the robustness of our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richelle Valdez
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Center for Dental and Oral Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (R.V.); (G.A.); (K.S.); (C.W.); (U.S.); (G.H.)
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Center Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ghazal Aarabi
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Center for Dental and Oral Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (R.V.); (G.A.); (K.S.); (C.W.); (U.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Kristin Spinler
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Center for Dental and Oral Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (R.V.); (G.A.); (K.S.); (C.W.); (U.S.); (G.H.)
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Center Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Walther
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Center for Dental and Oral Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (R.V.); (G.A.); (K.S.); (C.W.); (U.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Udo Seedorf
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Center for Dental and Oral Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (R.V.); (G.A.); (K.S.); (C.W.); (U.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Guido Heydecke
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Center for Dental and Oral Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (R.V.); (G.A.); (K.S.); (C.W.); (U.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Elzbieta Buczak-Stec
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (E.B.-S.); (H.-H.K.)
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (E.B.-S.); (H.-H.K.)
| | - André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (E.B.-S.); (H.-H.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-40-7410-52877
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Greenfield G, Blair M, Aylin PP, Saxena S, Majeed A, Hoffman M, Bottle A. Frequent attendances at emergency departments in England. Emerg Med J 2020; 37:597-599. [PMID: 32300044 DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2018-208189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A small proportion of patients referred to as 'frequent attenders' account for a large proportion of hospital activity such as ED attendances and admissions. There is a lack of recent, national estimates of the volume of frequent ED attenders. We aimed to estimate the volume and age distribution of frequent ED attenders in English hospitals. METHOD We included all attendances at all major EDs across England in the financial year 2016-2017. Patients who attended three times or more were classified as frequent attenders. We used a logistic regression model to predict the odds of being a frequent attender by age group. RESULTS 14 829 519 attendances were made by 10 062 847 patients who attended at least once. 73.5% of ED attenders attended once and accounted for 49.8% of the total ED attendances. 9.5% of ED attenders attended three times or more; they accounted for 27.1% of the ED attendances. While only 1.2% attended six times or more, their contribution was 7.6% of the total attendances. Infants and adults aged over 80 years were significantly more likely to be frequent attenders than adults aged 30-59 years (OR=2.11, 95% CI 2.09 to 2.13, OR=2.22, 95% CI 2.20 to 2.23, respectively). The likelihood of hospital admission rose steeply with the number of attendances a patient had. CONCLUSION One in 10 patients attending the ED are frequent attenders and account for over a quarter of attendances. Emergency care systems should consider better ways of reorganising health services to meet the needs of patients who attend EDs frequently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geva Greenfield
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mitch Blair
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Paul P Aylin
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sonia Saxena
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Azeem Majeed
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Maurice Hoffman
- Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care Northwest London, London, UK
| | - Alex Bottle
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Luppa M, Giersdorf J, Riedel-Heller S, Prütz F, Rommel A. Frequent attenders in the German healthcare system: determinants of high utilization of primary care services. Results from the cross-sectional German health interview and examination survey for adults (DEGS). BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2020; 21:10. [PMID: 31931727 PMCID: PMC6958724 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-020-1082-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Germany, patients are consulting general practitioners increasingly frequently, resulting in a high burden on the healthcare system. This study aimed to identify factors associated with frequent primary care attendance in the German healthcare system. METHODS The German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS) is part of Germany's national health monitoring, and includes a large representative sample of the German population aged 18-79 years. We defined the 10% of participants with the highest number of general practitioner contacts in the preceding 12 months as frequent attenders of primary care services. Binary logistic regression models with average marginal effects were used to identify potential determinants for frequent use of primary care services. RESULTS The sample comprised 7956 participants. Significant effects on frequent use of primary care were observed for low socioeconomic status, stressful life events, factors related to medical need for care such as medically diagnosed chronic conditions and for subjective health. In the full model, the number of non-communicable diseases and subjective health status had the strongest effect on frequent primary care use. We found an interaction effect suggesting that the association between subjective health status and frequent attendance vanishes with a higher number of non-communicable diseases. CONCLUSIONS We observed strong associations between frequent primary care attendance and medical need for care as well as subjective health-related factors. These findings suggest that better coordination of care may be a preferred method to manage health services utilization and to avoid redundant examinations and uncoordinated clinical pathways. Further research is needed to clarify moderating and mediating factors contributing to high utilization of primary care services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Luppa
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jan Giersdorf
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Steffi Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of General Practice, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Franziska Prütz
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Rommel
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
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Hadwiger M, König HH, Hajek A. Determinants of Frequent Attendance of Outpatient Physicians: A Longitudinal Analysis Using the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16091553. [PMID: 31052591 PMCID: PMC6539949 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16091553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
There is a lack of population-based longitudinal studies which investigates the factors leading to frequent attendance of outpatient physicians. Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze the determinants of frequent attendance using a longitudinal approach. The used dataset comprises seven waves (2002 to 2014; n = 28,574 observations; ranging from 17 to 102 years) from the nationally representative German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP). The number of outpatient physician visits in the last three months was used to construct the dependent variable “frequent attendance”. Different cut-offs were used (top 25%; top 10%; top 5%). Variable selection was based on the “behavioral model of health care use” by Andersen. Accordingly, variables were grouped into predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics as well as health behavior, which are possible determinants of frequent attendance. Conditional fixed effects logistic regressions were used. As for predisposing characteristics, regressions showed that getting married and losing one’s job increased the likelihood of frequent attendance. Furthermore, age was negatively associated with the outcome measure. Enabling characteristics were not significantly associated with the outcome measure, except for the onset of the “practice fee”. Decreases in mental and physical health were associated with an increased likelihood of frequent attendance. Findings were robust across different subpopulations. The findings of this study showed that need characteristics are particularly important for the onset of frequent attendance. This might indicate that people begin to use health services frequently when medically indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Hadwiger
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr 52, Hamburg 20246, Germany.
- Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr 52, Hamburg 20246, Germany.
| | - André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr 52, Hamburg 20246, Germany.
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Rifel J, Selic P. Characteristics of Elderly Frequent Attendees in Slovene Family Medicine Practices - a Cross-sectional Study. Mater Sociomed 2019; 31:93-98. [PMID: 31452632 PMCID: PMC6690307 DOI: 10.5455/msm.2019.31.93-98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Frequent attendance in family medicine practices is associated with elderly patients and those with chronic diseases. Longstanding frequent attendees have more social and psychiatric problems, medically unexplained conditions, and chronic diseases, and are prescribed more psychotropic drugs and analgesics. Aim: To fill the lack of data on the factors associated with frequent attendance at family medicine practices by the elderly. Methods: Forty family physicians (FPs) participated in this cross-sectional study in 2017 and randomly recruited up to 20 of their patients; 624 patients were recruited. From the patients’ health records, the FPs collected demographic data, lifestyle factors, all the patients’ diagnoses, all the drugs prescribed in the previous 12 months, multi-morbidity (CIRS-G index), the quality of life index (EQ-5D) and the number of visits to the family medicine practice in the previous 12 months. The Self-Rating Depression Scale was administered to the patients. Statistical analysis was carried out using the IBM SPSS 20.0 package, with appropriate non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test) to check significant differences between groups of patients. Multivariate modelling was carried out to evaluate the associations between the number of visits to the FP and independent variables. Results: The number of prescribed drugs (p=0.026), haematological problems (p=0.005) and genitourinary problems (p=0.001) were associated with frequent attendance. Patients with borderline depression were approximately three times more likely to be frequent attendees than non-depressed patients. Conclusion: Polypharmacy, haematological and genitourinary problems are associated with frequent attendance in elderly patients. Further longitudinal studies are required to validate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janez Rifel
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University in Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Polona Selic
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University in Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Hajek A, König HH. Which factors lead to frequent attendance in the outpatient sector among individuals in the second half of life? Evidence from a population-based longitudinal study in Germany. BMC Health Serv Res 2018; 18:673. [PMID: 30165847 PMCID: PMC6117977 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-018-3487-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite only constituting a small percentage of the population, frequent attenders place a tremendous burden on the healthcare system in Germany. Whilst there are some cross-sectional studies that examine the correlates of frequent attendance among older adults, there are only a few longitudinal studies that analyze the factors that lead to frequent attendance among middle-aged or older adults. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the factors leading to frequent attendance in the outpatient sector longitudinally. METHODS Data was drawn from three waves of a large, population-based sample of community-dwelling individuals aged 40 and above in Germany (n = 1049 in fixed effects regression). Individuals were classified as frequent attenders (GP visits) if they had, on average, visited a GP every second month in the previous 12 months. The same logic was applied for specialist visits. RESULTS Conditional FE logistic regressions showed that the onset of frequent attendance (GP visits) was negatively associated with age [OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.87-0.95], a change in employment status from employed to unemployed [OR: 2.26, 1.17-4.39], decreases in physical functioning [OR: 0.98, 0.97-0.99], worsening self-rated health [OR: 1.40, 1.11-1.78], and increases in physical illnesses [OR: 1.18, 1.06-1.32]. Similarly, the onset of frequent attendance (specialist visits) was associated with age [OR: 0.95, 0.92-0.98], decreases in physical functioning [OR: 0.99, 0.98-1.00], worsening self-rated health [OR: 1.50, 1.25-1.79], and increases in physical illnesses [OR: 1.24, 1.13-1.35]. CONCLUSIONS Need factors in particular were associated with the onset of frequent attendance. This relation did not vary by gender nor education, which may indicate that individuals only start to use health services more frequently when their needs increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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