Demand for emergency health service: characteristics and risk factors for inappropriate use

Objetivo: Avaliar a demanda do servi??o de sa??de de emerg??ncia. M??todo: Foi realizada an??lise descritiva de 1647 indiv??duos adultos que consultaram no servi??o p??blico de emerg??ncia de Pelotas, Brasil. Resultados: Pessoas com mais idade, de cor n??o branca, menor escolaridade, sem companheiro e tabagistas consultaram mais nesse servi??o, quando comparados com a popula????o em geral. Os indiv??duos esperaram em m??dia 15 minutos pra serem atendidos, foi solicitado exame em mais de 40% dos atendimentos e administrado medicamentos endovenosos em um ter??o das vezes. Idosos demoraram mais para procurar atendimento, mas foram atendidos mais rapidamente quando chegaram na emerg??ncia, e tiveram mais freq??entemente m??dico definido e suporte social. Tiveram tamb??m mais diagn??sticos relacionados com o aparelho circulat??rio, enquanto os mais jovens consultaram mais por causas externas. Conclus??o: A baixa m??dia de espera pelo atendimento sugere que este servi??o presta um atendimento imediato, enquanto a grande quantidade de diagn??sticos mal definidos indica que o atendimento ?? provis??rio. ?? preciso treinar os profissionais da emerg??ncia para reduzir a solicita????o de exames e assegurar que tanto profissional quanto popula????o esteja consciente da import??ncia de uma aten????o continuada.This study evaluated the demand of emergency health service. It was performed a descriptive analyses of 1647 adults that consulted at emergency public service of Pelotas, Brazil. Older subjects, with non white skin color, lower schooling, without partner, and smokers presented higher prevalence of consultations at this service when compared with the general population. Individuals waited, on average, 15 minutes to have their consultations, exams were requested in more than 40% of the visits, and intravenous medication were administered in one third of the visits. Elderly waited longer before searching the service, but they had lowest awaiting time after arriving at emergency service and had highest percentage of regular doctor and social support. Elderly had more diagnosis related to circulatory system, while among the youngest, external causes were the most frequent. Conclusion: The low waiting average for consultation suggest this service provide an immediate care while the great number of ill-defined signs or symptoms indicate that the provided care is provisional. It is necessary to train emergency professionals to reduce the number of tests requested and to assure that either professional as the population is conscious about the importance of a continuity of care