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[Service demand flow and planning in primary care]
M M Alonso Martínez1, F J Mora Guío, M E Calonge García
1Centro de Salud San Fernando, Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, Móstoles, Madrid.
Atencion Primaria
|October 31, 1994
Summary
Most new patients see a general practitioner within four months of registration. Women, older adults, and young individuals with chronic conditions are more likely to seek primary care early.
Area of Science:
- Primary Care research
- General Practice
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Understanding patient engagement with primary care is crucial for service planning.
- Identifying factors influencing initial contact with general practitioners (GPs) can optimize healthcare delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the timing of first contact with general practitioners (GPs) for newly registered patients.
- To identify socio-demographic variables associated with early primary care engagement.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, observational study involving 469 newly registered patients.
- 12-month follow-up period.
- Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests to analyze time to first visit and compare patient groups.
Main Results:
- 50% of patients visited a GP within the first four months post-registration.
- 75% of newly registered individuals attended at least once within the first year.
- Attendance was significantly higher among women (p < 0.001), individuals over 53 (p < 0.001), and young people with chronic health problems (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- A significant majority of new patients engage with primary care within the first year.
- Specific demographic groups (women, older adults, young individuals with chronic conditions) demonstrate earlier engagement.
- Findings support a "finding case" strategy for proactive screening, prevention, and health education, aiding service management.