RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Consulting behaviour in a group of young families
JF The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
JO J R Coll Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 657
OP 662
VO 32
IS 244
A1 Mildred Blaxter
A1 Elizabeth Paterson
YR 1982
UL http://bjgp.org/content/32/244/657.abstract
AB From data collected as part of a sociological study of the health care of children in a socially disadvantaged group, a description is given of all the illness perceived by the mothers, and the use of health services, in 139 children during six months. In some circumstances and for some conditions, the mothers of these families might be seen as 'underusing' services, neglecting potentially important symptoms. In other cases, they appeared to be 'overusers' for trivial conditions, especially of the services of their general practitioner. The reasons for their apparently inefficient behaviour are discussed, and suggestions are made about the possible implications for primary care among vulnerable families.