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Research ArticleOriginal Research

Stories from Frequent Attenders: A Qualitative Study in Primary Care

Paula Hodgson, Patricia Smith, Trish Brown and Christopher Dowrick
The Annals of Family Medicine July 2005, 3 (4) 318-323; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.311
Paula Hodgson
PhD, Bsc (Hons)
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Patricia Smith
MSc, MRCGP
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Trish Brown
LMSSA, MBBS
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Christopher Dowrick
MD, FRCGP
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  • Supplemental Appendix

    Supplemental Appendix. Interview Schedule for Expectations of Frequent Attenders.

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    • Supplemental data: Appendix - PDF file, 2 pages, 68 KB
  • The Article in Brief

    Background: Patients who make frequent visits to the family doctor can cause a strain on the work load and resources of the doctor�s office. This study interviewed such patients about how often they visit the doctor, what they expect from the visit, and their relationship with the medical team.
    What This Study Found: Most patients interviewed were not able to clearly say how often they visit the doctor. Although they had a lot of respect for their family doctors, many patients were dissatisfied with their medical treatment. They also reported problems making appointments, such as difficulties getting through to the doctor�s office by phone.
    Implications:
    � Patients who make frequent visits to the doctor may have a different view of the appropriate rate of visits, compared with family doctors and researchers.
    � Communication problems between doctors and patients may lead some patients to visit the doctor more often.
    � Patients who make frequent visits want their family doctor to acknowledge their symptoms and provide reassurance.

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The Annals of Family Medicine: 3 (4)
The Annals of Family Medicine: 3 (4)
Vol. 3, Issue 4
1 Jul 2005
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Stories from Frequent Attenders: A Qualitative Study in Primary Care
Paula Hodgson, Patricia Smith, Trish Brown, Christopher Dowrick
The Annals of Family Medicine Jul 2005, 3 (4) 318-323; DOI: 10.1370/afm.311

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Stories from Frequent Attenders: A Qualitative Study in Primary Care
Paula Hodgson, Patricia Smith, Trish Brown, Christopher Dowrick
The Annals of Family Medicine Jul 2005, 3 (4) 318-323; DOI: 10.1370/afm.311
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