Unscheduled consultations: a cross- sectional study of patients using walk-in emergency clinics
Détails
Télécharger: BIB_A6BC6BCE583E.P001.pdf (1625.99 [Ko])
Etat: Public
Version: Après imprimatur
Etat: Public
Version: Après imprimatur
ID Serval
serval:BIB_A6BC6BCE583E
Type
Mémoire
Sous-type
(Mémoire de) maîtrise (master)
Collection
Publications
Institution
Titre
Unscheduled consultations: a cross- sectional study of patients using walk-in emergency clinics
Directeur⸱rice⸱s
STAEGER P.
Codirecteur⸱rice⸱s
HUGLI O.
Détails de l'institution
Université de Lausanne, Faculté de biologie et médecine
Statut éditorial
Acceptée
Date de publication
2015
Langue
anglais
Nombre de pages
37
Résumé
Questions under study/principles
Switzerland experiences a strong increase of the unscheduled medical consultations which participates to the congestion of the hospital emergency departments. In this context, many walk-in emergency clinics have been established but less is known about the characteristics of the patients who visit these structures.
Methods
First, retrospective data about frequentation between 2011 and 2014 of three walk-in emergency clinics in Lausanne were analysed. Secondly, a questionnaire about sociodemographic data, access to care, patient's usual health status, and their global resources to solve their health problem was submitted during one week in the waiting room of each clinic from 1-20 September 2014, to patients aged 16 or older.
Results
The overall number of consultations increased globally by 6.9%, whereas Lausanne's population only increased by 2.9%. 305 (87%) patients were included for the questionnaire. The mean age of participants was 40.6 years old, 50% were women and 65% were Swiss. 76% of patients had a primary care physician (PCP), 38.7% of them said they had try to contact him in the last 24h for their problem. Among them, 81% did not get an appointment on the same day.
Conclusions
Our study shows that many patients suffering from a non-life-threatening health problem use walk-in emergency clinics as their PCP. Walk-in emergency clinics seem to respond to patient's needs and to the change in the way that care is consumed.
Switzerland experiences a strong increase of the unscheduled medical consultations which participates to the congestion of the hospital emergency departments. In this context, many walk-in emergency clinics have been established but less is known about the characteristics of the patients who visit these structures.
Methods
First, retrospective data about frequentation between 2011 and 2014 of three walk-in emergency clinics in Lausanne were analysed. Secondly, a questionnaire about sociodemographic data, access to care, patient's usual health status, and their global resources to solve their health problem was submitted during one week in the waiting room of each clinic from 1-20 September 2014, to patients aged 16 or older.
Results
The overall number of consultations increased globally by 6.9%, whereas Lausanne's population only increased by 2.9%. 305 (87%) patients were included for the questionnaire. The mean age of participants was 40.6 years old, 50% were women and 65% were Swiss. 76% of patients had a primary care physician (PCP), 38.7% of them said they had try to contact him in the last 24h for their problem. Among them, 81% did not get an appointment on the same day.
Conclusions
Our study shows that many patients suffering from a non-life-threatening health problem use walk-in emergency clinics as their PCP. Walk-in emergency clinics seem to respond to patient's needs and to the change in the way that care is consumed.
Mots-clé
Walk-in, unscheduled care, ambulatory care, primary care physician, questionnaire, Switzerland
Création de la notice
31/08/2016 13:16
Dernière modification de la notice
20/08/2019 15:11