Characteristics of Frequent Attenders Compared with Non-Frequent Attenders in Primary Care: Study of Remote Communities in Taiwan
Frequent attenders (FAs) have an impact on the medical resources and the quality of care. In Taiwan, the characteristics of FAs remain unclear in primary care. Outpatient data were screened from a central clinic within six surrounding fishing villages in northeastern Taiwan in 2017. FAs were defined...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/8/2/96 |
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| author | Shih-Chao Kang Chun-Chi Lin Chia-Chen Tsai Yin-Han Lu Chun-Feng Huang Yu-Chun Chen |
| author_facet | Shih-Chao Kang Chun-Chi Lin Chia-Chen Tsai Yin-Han Lu Chun-Feng Huang Yu-Chun Chen |
| author_sort | Shih-Chao Kang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Frequent attenders (FAs) have an impact on the medical resources and the quality of care. In Taiwan, the characteristics of FAs remain unclear in primary care. Outpatient data were screened from a central clinic within six surrounding fishing villages in northeastern Taiwan in 2017. FAs were defined as those who made >18 visits in one year, and those who made ≤18 visits were defined as non-frequent attenders (NFAs). Data of FAs and NFAs were collected and compared. The major diagnoses were reported using International Classifications of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10) codes. A total of 1586 subjects and 9077 visits were enrolled, including 119 FAs and 1467 NFAs. FAs had a more advanced age compared to NFAs. Both FAs and NFAs had more visits in summer. FAs had consumed high prescriptions and related costs. FAs also had higher therapeutic and first visit costs than NFAs. Comparing with age- sex-matched NFAs, FAs were positively associated with musculoskeletal diseases (M00-M99), hematological diseases (D50-D89), endocrine diseases (E00-E90), and mental disorders (F00-F99). Large-scale local datasets and suitable definitions of FAs for Taiwanese subjects are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:29:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-36b783a9f49941ac9d8602aeff002580 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:29:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-36b783a9f49941ac9d8602aeff0025802023-11-19T21:29:51ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322020-04-01829610.3390/healthcare8020096Characteristics of Frequent Attenders Compared with Non-Frequent Attenders in Primary Care: Study of Remote Communities in TaiwanShih-Chao Kang0Chun-Chi Lin1Chia-Chen Tsai2Yin-Han Lu3Chun-Feng Huang4Yu-Chun Chen5Division of Family Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Yilan 260, TaiwanDivision of Occupational Medicine, Taipei Veterans Hospital, Taipei 112, TaiwanDepartment of Internal Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Yilan 260, TaiwanDivision of Family Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Yilan 260, TaiwanDivision of Family Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Yilan 260, TaiwanFaculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, TaiwanFrequent attenders (FAs) have an impact on the medical resources and the quality of care. In Taiwan, the characteristics of FAs remain unclear in primary care. Outpatient data were screened from a central clinic within six surrounding fishing villages in northeastern Taiwan in 2017. FAs were defined as those who made >18 visits in one year, and those who made ≤18 visits were defined as non-frequent attenders (NFAs). Data of FAs and NFAs were collected and compared. The major diagnoses were reported using International Classifications of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10) codes. A total of 1586 subjects and 9077 visits were enrolled, including 119 FAs and 1467 NFAs. FAs had a more advanced age compared to NFAs. Both FAs and NFAs had more visits in summer. FAs had consumed high prescriptions and related costs. FAs also had higher therapeutic and first visit costs than NFAs. Comparing with age- sex-matched NFAs, FAs were positively associated with musculoskeletal diseases (M00-M99), hematological diseases (D50-D89), endocrine diseases (E00-E90), and mental disorders (F00-F99). Large-scale local datasets and suitable definitions of FAs for Taiwanese subjects are needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/8/2/96community medicinefamily medicinefrequent attendanceICD-10 codeprimary careTaiwan |
| spellingShingle | Shih-Chao Kang Chun-Chi Lin Chia-Chen Tsai Yin-Han Lu Chun-Feng Huang Yu-Chun Chen Characteristics of Frequent Attenders Compared with Non-Frequent Attenders in Primary Care: Study of Remote Communities in Taiwan Healthcare community medicine family medicine frequent attendance ICD-10 code primary care Taiwan |
| title | Characteristics of Frequent Attenders Compared with Non-Frequent Attenders in Primary Care: Study of Remote Communities in Taiwan |
| title_full | Characteristics of Frequent Attenders Compared with Non-Frequent Attenders in Primary Care: Study of Remote Communities in Taiwan |
| title_fullStr | Characteristics of Frequent Attenders Compared with Non-Frequent Attenders in Primary Care: Study of Remote Communities in Taiwan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characteristics of Frequent Attenders Compared with Non-Frequent Attenders in Primary Care: Study of Remote Communities in Taiwan |
| title_short | Characteristics of Frequent Attenders Compared with Non-Frequent Attenders in Primary Care: Study of Remote Communities in Taiwan |
| title_sort | characteristics of frequent attenders compared with non frequent attenders in primary care study of remote communities in taiwan |
| topic | community medicine family medicine frequent attendance ICD-10 code primary care Taiwan |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/8/2/96 |
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