Children seen frequently out of hours in one general practice.

摘要: OBJECTIVE--To identify reasons why some children receive more out of hours visits than most. DESIGN--A one year prospective study to the group. This was followed by a case-control involving record search and personal interviews. SETTING--One three doctor urban general practice in West Lothian with 4812 patients. SUBJECTS--40 aged under 10 years identified as high users service (more two year) 40 age sex matched controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Numbers visits; social factors such lone motherhood, low educational attainment; score for management response clinical vignette. RESULTS--147/756 (19%) were years; 109 (74%) 41 (6%). Problems seen mainly minor, little active required. Family which significantly common cases controls included mother (15 v 4), attainment (25 14), receipt income support (22 7), non-ownership home (45 22) or car (19 9). Mothers likely choose contact when presented vignettes describing childhood illnesses (median 16 16.5 14.5 controls, Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS--Children frequently expected came from socially disadvantaged families their mothers seek medical advice about minor illness. Maternal education, promote confidence managing illness, may reduce use service.