Recording of deaths in primary health care

Authors

  • Ana Paula Catarino Interna de Medicina Geral e Familiar. Centro de Saúde da Venda Nova.
  • Carlos Ferrão Interna de Medicina Geral e Familiar. Centro de Saúde da Venda Nova.
  • Maria João Queiroz Assistente Graduado de Medicina Geral e Familiar. Centro de Saúde da Venda Nova.
  • Rita Loura Chefe de Serviço de Medicina Geral e Familiar e Assistente Convidada da Cadeira de Medicina Geral e Familiar da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Centro de Saúde da Venda Nova.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v27i1.10814

Keywords:

Death Registers, Primary Health Care

Abstract

Objectives: To identify in two medical files the source of General Practitioners information on deaths and their causes, as well as the main causes and places of occurrence of the deaths of their patients. Type of study: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional. Location: Venda Nova Community Health Center. Methods:We used a non-random sample consisting in patients subscribed in two medical lists of Venda Nova Community Health Center that died during the period between 1990 and 2008. The source of information on the occurrence and cause of death was classified as formal and informal. It was considered formal when obtained from the General Practitioner, Death Certificate, Police, Health Authority, National Institute of Medical Emergency, SINUS®, Civil Registrar or Health Institution, and informal when coming from relatives, neighbors, friends or obituary. Results: In the 312 files reviewed the source of information on the occurrence of death was informal in 87%, being the family their main source. In 45% the source of information on the cause of death was also informal and formal in 32%. In 25% the death resulted from malignant disease and in 22% of circulatory disease. The main place of death was a Health Institution. Discussion and Conclusions: As shown in this study, the majority of the information of the General Practitioner on the occurrence and cause of death of their patients came from an informal source. The integration of the General Practitioner in a formal network of information between different health institutions and the creation of a death register in the Health Centers could provide an improvement of the health care provided.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2011-01-01

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 1 (2011): Revista Portuguesa de Clínica Geral

Section

Original Research

License

The authors will assign to the RPMGF the sole right to publish and distribute the content of the manuscript specified in this declaration via physical, electronic, broadcasting or any other medium that may come into existence. They also grant the RPMGF the right to use and exploit this manuscript, in particular by assigning, selling or licensing its content. This permission is permanent and takes effect from the moment the manuscript is submitted, has the maximum duration allowed by applicable Portuguese or international law and is of worldwide scope. The authors further declare that this assignment is made free of charge. If the RPMGF informs the authors that it is not going to publish their manuscript, the exclusive assignment of rights ceases forthwith.

The authors authorise the RPMGF (or any entity it may appoint) to act on their behalf when it believes that copyright may have been infringed.

 

How to Cite

Recording of deaths in primary health care. (2011). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 27(1), 14-8. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v27i1.10814