OBJECTIVES

To analyse less urgent and non-urgent visits to the hospital emergency department (ED) and their characteristics, and to determine the knowledge of the Catalan population about primary care (PC) services and the concepts of emergencies.

DESIGN

It is divided into 2 parts: 1) descriptive, retrospective study in which ED visits were investigated, and 2) observational, prospective and cross-sectional study through an anonymous and voluntary ad hoc survey.

LOCATION

The visits analysed were from an ED of a third-level referral hospital in Catalonia, Spain. The survey was distributed electronically to the Catalan population.

PARTICIPANTS

1. Visits to the ED made in 2018 and 2021 that were categorised at a triage level, and 2) residents in Catalonia excluding those who only had private health insurance and minors.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

1. Triage level and variables associated with visits to the ED, and 2) knowledge about their PC area and 4 scenarios in which they had to determine whether they would go to the ED or PC.

RESULTS

1. A total of 219,454 visits were analysed, and 50% were less urgent or non-urgent, and 2) 270 people were analysed. Despite being familiar with the PC area, 67% stated they would go to the ED if it were closed. In the scenarios, correct responses ranged from 46,7% to 86,3%.

CONCLUSIONS

The need to open future lines of research on the management of the population in non-urgent health situations and the appropriate use of health resources is demonstrated.