Author:
Barnes Katelyn,Ceramidas Dagmar,Douglas Kirsty
Abstract
Background Almost half of Australian after-hours emergency department (ED) presentations are rated as ‘non-urgent’ by clinicians and are suggested to be managed by community-based services, such as general practice (GP). This paper reports patient reasons for presenting for medical care after hours, and reasons for selection of specific services across a health system. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted across the Australian Capital Territory. Patients voluntarily completed questionnaires in waiting rooms during the after-hours periods of one weekday and one weekend in 2019 at 28/51 extended hours GPs, 3/3 medical deputising services (MDS), 3/3 nurse-led walk-in-clinics (WICs), and 2/2 public emergency departments (EDs). Results Of 3371 presentations, 1992 patients completed a survey, with 58% from GPs (n = 1149), 16% from WIC (n = 317), 10% from MDS (n = 193), and 17% from EDs (n = 333). Most patients presented with self-rated new issues (n = 987, 49.5%) and were uncertain of the urgency of their issues (n = 723, 36.7%). Common reasons for presenting to WIC, MDS, and EDs included the problem occurring after hours, and patients concern about the issue. Common reasons for presenting to GP were related to personal preference for after-hours care. Conclusions Patients present to after-hours medical services for both perceived need and convenience. Most patients appear to be self-selecting after-hours services appropriately aligned with advertised services; except for GP patients who were attending after hours for care that is often non-urgent and could be seen in usual working hours. This study should be replicated to account for local health systems, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related changes to health care.
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Health Policy
Reference22 articles.
1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2019) Population by age and sex tables. Available at [Accessed July 2021]
2. Australian Government Department of Health (2021) After hours primary health care. Available at
3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2018) Medicare Benefits claims data, 2016-17. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Government Canberra. Available at
4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2020) Use of emergency departments for lower urgency care: 2015–16 to 2018–19. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Government. Available at
5. GP services in Australia: presentation profiles during usual practice hours and after-hours periods.;Australian Journal of Primary Health,2020
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献