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BMC Primary Care

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Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Frequent attenders in late life in primary care: a systematic review of European studies

Authors: Franziska D. Welzel, Janine Stein, André Hajek, Hans-Helmut König, Steffi G. Riedel-Heller

Published in: BMC Primary Care | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Background

High utilization of health care services is a costly phenomenon commonly observed in primary care practices. However, while frequent attendance in primary care has been broadly studied across age groups, aspects of high utilization by elderly patients have not been investigated in detail. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review of frequent attendance in primary care among elderly people.

Methods

We searched five databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubPsych, and Cochrane Library) for published papers addressing frequent attendance in primary health care among elderly individuals. Quality of studies was assessed using established criteria for evaluating methodological quality.

Results

Ten studies met inclusion criteria and were included for detailed analysis. The average number of patients frequently utilizing primary care services varied across studies from 10% to 33% of the elderly samples and subsamples. The definition of frequent attendance across studies differed substantially. The most consistent associations between frequent attendance and old age were found for presence and severity of physical illness. Results on mental disorders and frequent attendance were heterogeneous. Only a few studies have assessed frequent attendance in association with factors such as drug use, social support or sociodemographic aspects; however results were inconsistent.

Conclusions

Severe ill health and the need for treatment serve as the main drivers of frequent attendance in older adults. As results were scarce and divergent, future studies are needed to provide more information on this topic. Since prior studies have offered only a snapshot of this service use behaviour, a longitudinal approach would be preferable in the future.

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Title: Frequent attenders in late life in primary care: a systematic review of European studies
Authors: Franziska D. Welzel
Janine Stein
André Hajek
Hans-Helmut König
Steffi G. Riedel-Heller
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Primary Care / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2731-4553
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-017-0700-7

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Frequent attenders in late life in primary care: a systematic review of European studies

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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