RESUMO
La hiperfrecuentación de servicios de salud constituye un problema para los pacientes, la familia y las instituciones. Este trabajo busca determinar la frecuencia y las características de los trastornos mentales comunes en pacientes hiperfrecuentadores de servicios que acudieron con síntomas y signos imprecisos a una institución prestadora de servicios de cuidado primario en la ciudad de Cali (Colombia) en 2007. Método: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Mediante una encuesta telefónica, que incluyó varios módulos del instrumento PRIME MD, se detectaron los trastornos mentales más frecuentes en pacientes hiperfrecuentadores. Resultado: Los hiperfrecuentadores de servicios son, en general, mujeres laboralmente activas, con edad promedio de 38,7 años. Acuden fundamentalmente por cefalea, pero tienen una alta prevalencia de trastornos mentales comunes (somatización, depresión y ansiedad), que no son fácilmente diagnosticados por los médicos en cuidado primario. Los valores monetarios de las actividades adicionales en salud que generan estos pacientes se atribuyen fundamentalmente a las consultas médicas y a los procedimientos que se les realizan. Conclusión: Considerar a los híper frecuentadores de servicios de salud como un grupo de riesgo para trastornos mentales comunes plantea su tamización como una estrategia eficiente para evitar el abuso de servicios y mejorar la satisfacción con la atención recibida...
Hyper-frequentation in health services is a problem for patients, their families and the institutions. This study is aimed at determining the frequency and characteristics of common mental disorders in hyper-frequent patients showing vague symptoms and signs at a primary healthcare service during the year 2007 in the city of Cali (Colombia). Methodology: Cross sectional. The most frequent mental disorders in hyper-frequent patients were detected through a telephone interview which included several modules of the PRIME MD instrument. Results: In general, healthcare service hyper-frequenters are working women, 38,7-year old in average. Basically, the consultation is due to cephalalgia but they also exhibit a high prevalence of common mental disorders (somatization, depression and anxiety) not easily diagnosed by physicians in primary care. Expenses for additional health activities generated by these patients are attributed basically to medical consultation and required procedures. Conclusion: Considering hyper-frequenters in health care services as a risk group in terms of common mental disorders involves screening as an efficient strategy to prevent abuse in service use and to improve satisfaction with the attention received...
Assuntos
Ansiedade , Depressão , Mau Uso de Serviços de Saúde , Atenção Primária à SaúdeRESUMO
UNLABELLED: Hyper-frequentation in health services is a problem for patients, their families and the institutions. This study is aimed at determining the frequency and characteristics of common mental disorders in hyper-frequent patients showing vague symptoms and signs at a primary healthcare service during the year 2007 in the city of Cali (Colombia). METHODOLOGY: Cross sectional. The most frequent mental disorders in hyper-frequent patients were detected through a telephone interview which included several modules of the PRIME MD instrument. RESULTS: In general, healthcare service hyper-frequenters are working women, 38,7-year old in average. Basically, the consultation is due to cephalalgia but they also exhibit a high prevalence of common mental disorders (somatization, depression and anxiety) not easily diagnosed by physicians in primary care. Expenses for additional health activities generated by these patients are attributed basically to medical consultation and required procedures. CONCLUSION: Considering hyper-frequenters in health care services as a risk group in terms of common mental disorders involves screening as an efficient strategy to prevent abuse in service use and to improve satisfaction with the attention received.
