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Cited by 28Health disparities and outcomesPrimary Care and Health OutcomesPublic Health and Social Inequalities

Frequent attendance, socioeconomic status and burden of ill health: An investigation in the West of Scotland

Wyke, Sally, Hunt, Kate, Walker, Jeremy, Wilson, Philip·2003·European Journal of General Practice
DOI 10.3109/13814780309160402
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether associations between frequent attendance in general practice and socioeconomic circumstances remain significant after taking detailed account of underlying ill health, perceived social support and social isolation. METHODS: Data from a community health survey of 1477 people in their late forties and late sixties living in the West of Scotland were examined for associations between frequent attendance, socioeconomic circumstances, self-reported ill health and social support using logistic regression. The main outcome measure was the probability of being a frequent attender (defined pragmatically after initial review of the distribution as 10+ visits a year) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Frequent attendance was significantly associated with: greater numbers of serious conditions reported (adjusted odds ratio 1.47; 99% CI 1.09-1.98); higher levels of anxiety (adjusted OR 1.14; 1.04-1.25); and lower levels of self-assessed health (adjusted OR 0.67; 0.54-0.83). No measures of socioeconomic circumstance or social support remained significantly associated with frequent attendance when the greater burden of ill health in poorer and less well-supported groups was considered. CONCLUSION: The higher levels of frequent attendance likely to be experienced by general practitioners serving populations in adverse social circumstances are likely to be explained by higher levels of health needs, and not solely by a greater readiness to consult for whatever reason. General practitioners working in deprived areas are likely to have to 'run to keep up' in dealing with such comorbidity, and ways of supporting them in the provision of optimum healthcare need to be considered.

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  • Studies that have attempted to adjust for need, usually on the basis of estimates of morbidity, have generally suggested that the apparent excess of GP consultation can be explained by higher need.

    “Studies that have attempted to adjust for need, usually on the basis of estimates of morbidity, have generally suggested that the apparent excess of GP consultation can be explained by higher need [31].”

    From Conducting a critical interpretive synthesis of the literature on access to healthcare by vulnerable groups (2006) · cites this paper as [31]

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Authors
Wyke, S., Hunt, K., Walker, J., & Wilson, P.
Affiliations
  • Scottish School of Primary Care (GB)
  • MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit (GB)
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • University of Glasgow (GB)
Corresponding author
Wyke, Sally
ORCID
Venue
European Journal of General Practice
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2003-01
Volume
9
Issue
2
Pages
48-55
ISSN
  • 1381-4788 (ISSN-L)
  • 1751-1402
DOI
10.3109/13814780309160402
OpenAlex
W2112993048
Cited by
28
References
20
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
FWCI
2.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • European Journal of General Practice (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Glasgow
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Primary Care and Health Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Health › Public Health and Social Inequalities
Keywords
frequent attenders, socioeconomic status, social support, social isolation, anxiety, comorbidities, older adults, underserved areas, health disparities, primary care workload
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Female, Health Status, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Office Visits, Primary Health Care, Scotland, Social Class

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