Submitted by Leonardo Lima (leonardoperlim@gmail.com) on 2017-04-17T18:34:15Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) dissert Capilheira.pdf: 2281720 bytes, checksum: 415c748d113301609320b34da1966b61 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-05-10T14:45:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 dissert Capilheira.pdf: 2281720 bytes, checksum: 415c748d113301609320b34da1966b61 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-05-10T14:46:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 dissert Capilheira.pdf: 2281720 bytes, checksum: 415c748d113301609320b34da1966b61 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-10T14:47:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 dissert Capilheira.pdf: 2281720 bytes, checksum: 415c748d113301609320b34da1966b61 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-11-01 / Sem bolsa / Objetivo: Identificar as características individuais associadas a maior probabilidade de consultar ao médico e avaliar o excesso de consultas. Métodos: Realizado estudo transversal de base populacional com 3100 adultos (≥ 20 anos) moradores de Pelotas situada ao sul do Brasil. O processo de amostragem foi feito por conglomerados em múltiplos estágios. Foram analisados fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos e de saúde, além do número de consultas no período de três meses anteriores à entrevista. Considerou-se superutilização de consultas a referência de quatro ou mais consultas no período estudado. As análises multivariadas foram baseadas em um modelo conceitual de análise, sendo considerados a amostragem por conglomerados. Resultados: A prevalência de consulta ao médico foi de 55,1%. A maior probabilidade de consultar esteve associada às mulheres, viver com companheiro(a), hospitalização no ano anterior, ser ex-fumante, ser diabético e ser hipertenso. Verificou-se uma tendência de consultar conforme o avanço da idade e piora da autopercepção de saúde. A prevalência de superutilização de consultas foi de 9%. Esta se as Conclusões: Verificando os determinantes individuais para consultar o médico, o atual estudo detecta alguns subgrupos da população que utiliza e superutiliza os serviços de saúde. Esse conhecimento é essencial para os gestores em saúde, que poderiam organizar melhor o sistema baseado na real demanda populacional. / Aims: To explore individual characteristics related to a greater likelihood of consulting a physician, and to evaluate excess of consultations. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study including 3100 adults (≥ 20 years) living in Pelotas, a southern Brazilian city. The sample was selected in multiplestages. Socio-economic, demographic and health-related variables were investigated, as well as the number of consultations within the three months prior to the interview. Over utilization was defined as four or more consultations in the period. Multivariable analysis was based on a conceptual framework, and took the clustering of the sample into account. Results: The prevalence of consultation was 55,1%. Women, those living with partners, hospitalized in the previous 12 months, former smokers, diabetic and hypertensive subjects were most likely to visit a physician in the previous three months. While age was positively related to the number of consultations, selfreported health status showed the inverse pattern. The prevalence of over utilization was 9%. Over utilization was higher among women, those hospitalized in the previous 12 months and with history of hypertension. Age and body mass index were positively related to over consultation, while selfreported health status presented a negative trend. Conclusion: Focusing on the individuals determinants of medical consultations, our study detects some sub-groups of the entire population which use and over use health services. These data are essential for policy makers, in order to better organize health services based on the real demand.