Frequent users of doctor services in a small rural community

Thirty-six per cent of the visits to doctors in a small rural community were made by the 6% of the population having the most diseases or symptoms. About 90% of the population accounted for about one-half of the medical services provided by the Kuusamo doctors; the other half was taken up by the 10% of the inhabitants in greatest need of medical attention. Adults consulted a doctor 2.1 times a year on the average. The most common reasons for consultations were respiratory diseases (23%), diseases of the genito-urinary system (16%) and accidents (14%).