RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Utilisation of health care by women who have suffered abuse: a descriptive study on medical records in family practice
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 396
OP 400
VO 57
IS 538
A1 Sylvie Lo Fo Wong
A1 Fred Wester
A1 Saskia Mol
A1 Renée Römkens
A1 Toine Lagro-Janssen
YR 2007
UL http://bjgp.org/content/57/538/396.abstract
AB Background Female patients, abused by their partner, are heavy users of medical services. To date, valid indicators of partner abuse of women are lacking. Aim To outline the healthcare utilisation in family practice of women who have suffered abuse, and compare this to the average female population in family practice. Design of study As part of a primary study on the role of family doctors in recognising and managing partner abuse a retrospective study was performed. Anonymised data from the electronic medical records of women who have suffered abuse were collected over the period January 2001–July 2004. These data were compared to those from the average female population of the Second Dutch National Survey in General Practice 2001 (DNSGP-2). Setting Family practices in Rotterdam and surrounding areas in 2004. Method The numbers of consultations and prescriptions for pain medication, tranquillisers and antidepressants of women who have suffered abuse (n = 92) were compared to those of the female population of the DNSGP-2 (n = 210 071). The presented health problems and referrals of the studied group were examined. Results Pain, in all its manifestations, appeared to be the most frequently presented health problem. Compared to the female population of the DNSGP-2, in all age categories, women who have suffered abuse consult their family doctor almost twice as often and receive three to seven times more pain medication. Conclusion A doubled consultation frequency, chronic pain and an excessively high number of prescriptions for pain medication are characteristics of healthcare utilisation of women have been abused in this study. These findings contribute to the development of the concept of the ‘symptomatic’ female patient.