Is frequent attendance a persistent characteristic of a patient? Repeat studies of attendance pattern at the family practitioner.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the extent of frequent attendance as a persistent characteristic of patients by repeat studies of attendance at a health centre.

DESIGN

A follow-up of frequent attenders and compared patients in 1991 among frequent attenders in 1996.

SETTING

Mariehem health centre in Umeå in northern Sweden providing care for 10,500 and 12,000 inhabitants in 1991 and 1996, respectively.

SUBJECTS

Frequent attenders, defined as patients who had at least 5 consultations with physicians during 1 year at the health centre, compared to attenders who had between 1 and 4 consultations in 1991 and 1996.

RESULTS

The proportion of people who lived in the area and consulted a doctor at the health centre at least once during 1 year increased from 40.0% in 1991 to 45.2% in 1996. The number of frequent attenders increased from 179 to 303 and they took 15% and 20% of all consultations in 1991 and 1996, respectively. Twenty-five patients (21 females and 4 males) were identified as frequent attenders in both years.

CONCLUSION

With the exception of a small group of patients, mostly females, frequent attendance seems not to be a persistent characteristic of patients.