ArticlePorto biomedical journal
Determinants of frequent use of open consultations: a study on patient demographics, chronic conditions, and utilization patterns in primary care.
Article in Porto biomedical journal. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Frequent attenders in primary health care in Finland: use of primary care services and patient characteristics.Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2026Article
- [Definition of polyconsultant patients in primary health care using Data Science].Atencion primaria · 2026Article
- Enhancing Post-Discharge Care for People Who Have Had an Acute Myocardial Infarction in Portugal: Insights From Patient Journey Mapping.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
In Portugal, open consultations (OCs) in primary health care address urgent medical needs, constituting 40-50% of family doctor activity. Frequent attenders (FAs), often presenting nonacute issues, significantly contribute to health care overuse. This study aimed to identify factors associated with frequent OC use in a primary health care unit during 2022. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 4,269 adult patients, with frequent attendance defined as four or more consultations (≥90th percentile). Sociodemographic and clinical factors, including age, sex, employment, chronic conditions, and multimorbidity, were examined using binomial logistic regression. FAs (n = 570, 13.4%) accounted for 36.2% of all consultations. Significant associated variables included female sex (OR = 1.417), economic insufficiency (OR = 1.323), and multimorbidity (OR = 1.678). Conditions such as musculoskeletal (OR = 2.146), psychological (OR = 2.040), and neurological (OR = 1.550) disorders were strongly linked to frequent attendance. While FAs represent a minority of patients, their disproportionate use of OC services underscores the need for targeted interventions, such as individualized care plans and resource optimization, to balance demand and availability. These findings highlight critical areas for policy and practice to enhance health care efficiency.
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Registered trials
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