Non-specific Health complaints and self-rated health in pre-adolescents; impact on primary health care use

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to explore past and future primary health care use in preadolescents reporting frequent non-specific health complaints or a low self-rated health compared to that of preadolescents with no frequent health complaints or with good self-rated health. The study was conducted as a cohort study based within the Danish National Birth Cohort (1996-2002). Information on non-specific health complaints and self-rated health was obtained by an 11-year follow-up questionnaire. Information about number of general practitioner (GP) contacts was obtained from the Health Insurance Service Register. A total of 44,877 pre-adolescents gave complete exposure information. Pre-adolescents who reported frequent non-specific health complaints had a higher use of GP compared to pre-adolescents without complaints across the five years following the index date (somatic complaints: IRR = (1.46 [1.38; 1.55], mental complaints: IRR = 1.16 [1.12; 1.19], both complaints: IRR = 1.58 [1.47; 1.69]). The same pattern was found for the association between low self-rated health and number of GP contacts (IRR = 1.41 (1.36; 1.46)). Non-specific health complaints and a poor self-rated health in pre-adolescents was associated with a higher past and future use of GP, indicating a need for development of early interventions with help for symptom management.

Maternal depression and non-specific health complaints in the offspring: a cross-sectional study in Danish primary care

“… 48 One study performed on the same population as in this study, found higher primary health care use in children with frequent health complaints and low SAH. 31 …”

“…For both somatic and mental complaints, the response options were: almost every day; more than once a week; almost every week; more than once a month; almost every month; or, rarely or never. As in previous research on this cohort, 31 the outcome was reporting the presence of daily and almost every day health complaints. This symptom checklist has previously been found to have high reliability and validity.…”

“…Recent research has found higher past and future use of health care in general practice in pre-adolescents with non-specific health complaints and low SAH. 31 …”

“…This study adds results based on the preadolescents' own reports. Recent research has found higher past and future use of healthcare in general practice in preadolescents with non-specific health complaints and low selfassessed health (32). The General Practitioner (GP) evaluates women from pregnancy and children from childhood through adolescence.…”

Necessidades em Saúde dos adolescentes na perspectiva dos profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde

“…They concluded that children with frequent non-specific complaints and low self-assessment use primary care services more often than children without complaints or with good self-assessment. They also emphasize that the increase in non-specific complaints is a global phenomenon and requires early interventions to prevent morbidities and an increase in health costs 16 . Considering the results of the present study, the structure for monitoring and prevention actions is an urgent necessity.…”