[Use and misuse of an outpatient casualty department]

During periods of five weeks before and five weeks after distribution of a pamphlet entitled "Before you go to your doctor or to the casualty department" which was distributed to all households, the patterns of attendance at a casualty department were investigated with subdivision into degrees of indication for attendance. A significant decrease in the number of attendances was observed after distribution of the pamphlet. Patients with lesser indications remained away. It was estimated that at least 56% of the cases could have been treated in the primary sector. 37% of the attendances outside normal working hours were considered as being postponable until daytime.