How GPs can Recognize Persistent Frequent Attenders at Finnish Primary Health Care Using Electronic Patient Records.

Introduction: The proportion of patients who are frequent attenders (FAs) varies from few percent to almost 30% of all patients. A small group of patients continued to visit GPs year after year. In previous studies, it has been reported that over 15% of all 1-year FAs were persistent frequent attenders (pFAs).

One-session cognitive behavior treatment for long-term frequent attenders in primary care: randomized controlled trial.

Aim: The aim of the study was to find out, if a single cognitive behavior treatment (CBT) session for long-term frequent attenders in primary care affects the attendance frequency and mental well-being of the patients.

Methods: Out of 193 long-term frequent attenders, 56 participated and were randomized to receive either a one-session CBT intervention or usual care. The groups were compared to each other regarding change in general practitioner visits and change in depressive symptoms, sense of coherence, somatoform symptoms and hypochondriacal anxiety at six months' follow-up.

Effect of administrative information on visit rate of frequent attenders in primary health care: ten-year follow-up study.

Background: Frequent attenders (FAs) use a disproportionately large share of the resources of general practitioners (GPs) working in primary healthcare centres. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of FAs among all patients in the primary health care centres of a medium-sized city in Finland, and to examine whether providing GPs with administrative information about their frequent attenders (names and numbers of visits per year) can reduce the number of FAs and the frequency of their visits.

Methods: Statistic data on all GP visits (n = 1.

[Update on current care guidelines. Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of cytological changes in the cervix, vagina and vulva].

Approximately 150 cervical cancer cases are diagnosed in Finland annually. Both incidence and mortality have decreased by 80% since organised screening began. Recently, screening based on primary HPV-testing with Pap-smear triage has been shown to be more sensitive and more specific among women over 35 years old in randomised studies and thus may be implemented in routine.