• Kalpani I Duwalage, Ellen Burkett, Gentry White, Andy Wong, and Mery H Thompson.
• School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
• Emerg Med Australas. 2021 Dec 1; 33 (6): 1049-1058.

ObjectiveThis research aims to (i) identify general practice-type (GP-type) presentations to EDs in South-East Queensland, Australia and (ii) compare and quantify the clinical, socio-demographic and time-varying characteristics between GP-type and non-GP-type presentations.MethodsData were collected from presentations to four EDs in Queensland from 2009 to 2014. A modified version of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) method for identifying GP-type ED presentations was used.ResultsThe four EDs have different proportions of GP-type presentations, between 7% and 33%. Between 2009 and 2014, the amount of GP-type presentations increased in three EDs, by between 5% and 16%, and decreased by 30% in the other ED. Different holidays, for example, the public holidays over the Christmas to New Year period, impact GP-type presentations. Over 50% of GP-type presentations occurred in those aged 0-34 years, and <1% were aged 85+ years. Injury-related diagnoses made up around 37% of the GP-type presentations, and around 13% did not wait for a diagnosis, averaged over the EDs. GP-type presentations are more likely to present to EDs outside standard general practitioner hours.ConclusionsExisting methods for identifying GP-type presentations have drawbacks, and modified methods are required to better identify these types of presentations. Temporal effects not previously investigated in Australian studies, such as holidays, are significantly associated with GP-type presentations. These findings aid strategic planning and interventions to support review of GP-type presentations, instead, in primary-care facilities, and such interventions may be assistive in some EDs more than others.© 2021 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.

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