Primary Care Patients Who Prefer Emergency Department Instead of Family Physician; How Do They Use Their Family Physician?

Abstract

Aim: Patients with non-urgent (NU) issues go to the emergency department (ED) rather than to primary care providers, and this has become a worldwide problem. Thus, this study aimed to determine the characteristics of NU patients and to compare the use of EDs and family physicians (FPs). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the ED of a tertiary hospital. A questionnaire was administered to NU (level 5) patients (aged >= 18 years) defined using the five-level triage system. Results: Upper respiratory tract infection symptoms (19.6%) and gastrointestinal system problems (18.6%) were the most common complaints. FP contact was made before the ED visit by 13.3% of the patients. Most of them (79.6%) stated that they were satisfied with their FP and 6.1% never went to the FP. As regards health problems, 39.5% and 29.3% reported that they preferred the FP and ED, respectively. The visiting frequency of >= 3 times per year was 30.1% for the ED and was 42.9% for the FPs. The frequency of ED visits of those who were not satisfied with their FP was significantly higher than those of other participants (p=0.025). A significant relationship was found between the frequency of ED visits and FP visits. Conclusion: Less than half of the patients preferred FPs when they had health problems. Those who visited the ED also frequently visited FPs. Dissatisfaction with the FP is associated with the frequency of visits in the ED.