[Family physicians and the demand for care. An opinion poll]

To find the views of family doctors (FD) on care demand, its conditioning factors, its repercussions and possible rationalizing measures, and to relate these to personal and professional characteristics.

A descriptive crossover study.

Primary care.

140 of 262 FD from Health Centres in Navarra who responded to a self-filled questionnaire.

The doctors stated they averaged 31.3 patients per day (SD = 14.3) and thought that the ideal was 21.2 (SD = 9.6). 69.2% attendances were unjustified. 57.7% considered the volume of demand obstructed other health activities: teaching (50%) and research (52.9%) were the activities most obstructed, and professional satisfaction (41.4%) the personal aspect most affected.

A high percentage of those surveyed think that there is excessive care pressure with affects other activities and the welfare and relationships of the FDs. Among measures aimed at rationalizing health-care demand, the development of nursing activity and coordination of care levels must be considered.