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

OBJECTIVES

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.

DESIGN

A descriptive crossover study.

SETTING

Primary care.

PARTICIPANTS

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

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSIONS

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.