[Patients in ambulatory care]

A study on ambulatory medical care has been conducted in the cantons of Vaud and Fribourg in february-march 1987. The characteristics of patients visiting a private doctor and those of outpatients in hospitals are described. At private offices women older than 15 years consult more often than men; children (0-4 years) and elderly are the groups of population who consult most. In ambulatory services of hospitals, men are more present than women; children aged 0 to 4 years and adults aged 15 to 39 years use most these services. Use of ambulatory care varies with regions and days of the week. In urban regions, people have more medical visits. On Thursdays and weekends, there are less consultations but they are more often urgent.