Reasons for encounter and disease patterns in Danish primary care: Changes over 16 years
- 29 May 2012
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
- Vol. 30 (2), 70-75
- https://doi.org/10.3109/02813432.2012.679230
Abstract
Approximately 98% of Danish citizens are listed with a general practice which they consult for medical advice. Although 85% of the population contact their general practitioner (GP) every year, little is known about these contacts. The aim of the present paper is to gain updated knowledge about patients' reasons for encounter and the GP activities and to make comparisons with a similar study from 1993. All GPs in the Central Denmark Region were invited to register all contacts during one randomly chosen day within a year. The registration included questions about patients' reasons for encounter, the types and contents of the contacts, referrals, and distribution between new episodes and follow-up contacts. Aggregated data were compared with the results from 1993. A total of 404 (46%) GPs participated. The number of contacts per 1000 inhabitants had risen by 19.7%. The reasons for encounter and final diagnoses resembled those in 1993. Musculoskeletal, psychological, and respiratory problems were the most common reasons for encounter, psychological problems being the only type to increase over the period. Interestingly, the proportion of diagnoses within the ICPC 'A' chapter rose from 13.5 to 19.7%. The referral rate rose by 2% (relative: 18.7%) from 10.7% to 12.7% and the share of follow-up contacts rose from 45.9% to 50.4% (relative: 8.7%). Quite small changes were seen in the patterns of reasons for encounter and diagnoses from 1993 to 2009. However, an increase was found in contacts with general practice and referrals and in the proportion of follow-ups.Keywords
This publication has 14 references indexed in Scilit:
- The effects of gatekeeping: A systematic review of the literatureScandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 2010
- Attachment in the doctor–patient relationship in general practice: A qualitative studyScandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 2010
- The end of the decentralised model of healthcare governance?Journal of Health Organization and Management, 2008
- What went and what came? Morbidity trends in general practice from the NetherlandsThe European Journal of General Practice, 2008
- The Danish Civil Registration System. A cohort of eight million persons.2006
- [The use of Danish day-time general practice. Status and perspectives].2005
- Improving Primary Care for Patients With Chronic IllnessJAMA, 2002
- The Danish health care system: it ain't broke… so don't fix itHealth Policy, 2002
- Referral from General Practice to DermatologistsScandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 1988
- International Classification of Primary CareScandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 1986