Analysis of after-hours calls and visits in a family practice

The after-hours encounter is an important aspect of primary care. This study examined the pattern of patient behavior after hours in a rural Ontario setting serving a mixed white and native population. Of the 83 telephone calls and 59 visits over a six-week period, approximately 60 percent were from females (52 percent of the clinic population), and 70 percnet were for new problems, with acute infection accounting for nearly one third of the contacts. Forty-seven percent of the calls were rated as highly necessary; 56 percent of the calls received visits. The following factors related to the preceding call increased the likelihood of a visit: (1) an early evening call; (2) a high necessity rating; (3) a classification of trauma: (4) caller at the limit of tolerance of symptoms: (5) white caller. The significance of the results and their implications are discussed.