Kreienmeyer, L. (Laura) (2017) Patient structure and medical care in the out-of-hours care centre Oldenburg. thesis, Medicine.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Introduction: Out-of hours care centres (OOHCC) in Germany provide medical aid for urgent health problems outside the business hours of family practices. The utilisation of these institutions and the patient care there is little studied. This research describes the procedures of one urban OOHCC. Material and methods: This descriptive study was conducted as a four-week-patient survey in the OOHCC Oldenburg. A questionnaire was filled in by the patients about sociodemographic data and reasons for encounter. Day, time of arrival and waiting time were added. The doctor assessed the urgency of the consultation and filled in information about performed diagnostic tests, prescribed drugs and the further proceeding. Differences in the medical care between the age categories were tested with chi-square tests. Results: 892 of the total 1098 patients participated in the study (response-rate of 81.2%). The mean age was 40.3 years. Almost every third patient was between 18 and 29 years old. 60.3% were female. Most patients had a regular general practitioner (93.7%), a statutory health insurance (88.3%) and lived in or near Oldenburg (81.1%). About 60% of the patients came at the weekend. The leading complaint was insect or tick bites (13.0%). Pain and infections were also frequent. Most patients came with only recently occurred complaints. One of six patients had an injury. On Average the patients waited 45 minutes. Diagnostic tests were seldomly performed. Antibiotics (25.9%) and analgesics (21.0%) were prescribed predominately, other medications were less important. Three quarters of the patient contacts were assessed as necessary. 8.2% were sent to an emergency department. Conclusion: Further research is necessary to get an overview of the current situation and to develop ideas for improvements in out-of-hours primary care in Germany. Likewise, reasons for the high patient numbers of young adults and their motives for coming should be investigated.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Thesis) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Faculty supervisor: and Berger, Prof. Dr. Marjolein Y. |
| Supervisor name: | Second supervisor: and Freitag, Prof. Dr. med. Michael and Notdienstpraxis Oldenburg and 26121 Oldenburg and Deutschland |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Jun 2020 10:40 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2020 10:40 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/160 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |