Profile and motives of non-users from a family health unit in Porto
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v41i2.13839Keywords:
No-show patients, Primary health careAbstract
Introduction: The non-use of primary health care is problematic, especially due to the lack of surveillance of the low user. Reduced frequency of consultations with family doctors prevents screening, early detection/prevention of pathologies, and adequate control of chronic diseases.
Objectives: This study aims to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical profile and the reasons why the population does not use family medicine consultations.
Methods: All users aged 18 or older who had not used the consultation in the last three years were selected. First, data collection was collected via telephone questionnaire to outline the sociodemographic and clinical profile. Subsequently, via email, a second questionnaire was administered regarding the reasons.
Results: Of the 1,182 individuals, 413 were studied regarding their sociodemographic and clinical profile. Low users had an average age of 47. The majority were male (60.8%), had higher education (59.8%), were actively employed (71.2%), and healthy (62.7%). Their most prevalent pathology was hypertension (10.4%). Individuals with chronic disease were older (p<0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). It was found that a greater proportion of women had diabetes (p=0.009), dyslipidemia (p=0.048), and generalized anxiety disorder (p=0.016). Only 119 responded to the second questionnaire. 74% reported feeling healthy, 49% reported follow-up care in another specialty in the public/private sector, and 28% reported an insufficient relationship with their family doctor.
Conclusion: The typical non-user is male, in his fifth decade of life, with a higher education, professionally active, and healthy. The low use of medical consultations may be due to a lower notion of personal risk of illness or a greater notion of health literacy among these users, or to a greater opportunity/access to consultations in the private sector. There was a need to invest in measures to increase the adherence of these users, such as communication training for the medical team.
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