Table 3.
Circumstances and reasons provided for attending the ED
| Accepting n = 58 |
Not accepting n = 27 |
Total n = 85 |
p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%*) | n (%*) | n | ||
| Day of ED visit | 0.277 | |||
| Weekday | 36 (62.1) | 20 (74.1) | 56 | |
| Weekend day | 22 (37.9) | 7 (25.9) | 29 | |
| Previous contact with a GP | 0.225 | |||
| Yes | 16 (27.6) | 11 (40.7) | 27 | |
| No | 42 (72.4) | 16 (59.3) | 58 | |
| Duration of presenting problem | 0.941 | |||
| ≤ 1 day | 37 (63.8) | 17 (63.0) | 54 | |
| > 1 day | 21 (36.2) | 10 (37.0) | 31 | |
| Referral to the ED | 0.664 | |||
| Self/Relative referral | 46 (79.3) | 19 (70.4) | 65 | |
| GP | 9 (15.5) | 6 (22.2) | 15 | |
| Employer | 3 (5.2) | 2 (7.4) | 5 | |
| Mean level of urgency perceived by the patient (± SD**) | 9.4 ± 5.5 | 13.0 ± 5.2 | 10.6 ± 5.6 | |
| Pain | 0.577 | |||
| Yes | 38 (65.5) | 16 (59.3) | 54 | |
| No | 20 (34.5) | 11 (40.7) | 31 | |
| Principal reason for attending the ED (n = 83) | 0.100 | |||
| Somatic injuries | 24 (42.1) | 16 (61.5) | 40 | |
| Traumatic injuries | 33 (57.9) | 10 (38.5) | 43 | |
| Diagnostic investigation(s) performed at the ED | 0.348 | |||
| Yes | 21 (36.2) | 7 (25.9) | 28 | |
| No | 37 (63.8) | 20 (74.1) | 57 | |
| Treatment for trauma performed at the ED | 1.000 | |||
| Yes | 4 (6.9) | 2 (7.4) | 6 | |
| No | 54 (93.1) | 25 (92.6) | 79 | |
* Column percentages, ** SD: standard deviation