Evaluation of the manageability of patients visiting the neurology outpatient clinic in primary care

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Family medicine should be considered the first point of entry into the healthcare system and should function in coordination with higher levels of care. This study examines the reasons for neurology outpatient clinic visits and patients' prior visits to family physicians, evaluating the impact of the lack of a referral system on the workload of tertiary care and the manageability of these visits in primary care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our research is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at a single center with 502 patients aged 18 and over who visited the neurology outpatient clinic at Sakarya Training and Research Hospital. Data were collected between July 1 and December 31, 2024, through face-to-face interviews using a 25-question survey. Analyses were performed using SPSS 29.0, with the threshold for statistical significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: In our study, 20.9% of patients visiting the neurology outpatient clinic were found to be manageable in primary care. Significant differences were observed in variables such as chronic disease, economic status, employment, laboratory/imaging needs, admission method, and age (p<0.05). Patients with chronic diseases (86.8%) and those requiring imaging or interventional procedures were deemed unmanageable in primary care. The manageability rate was 31.8% without laboratory needs but dropped to 15.0% with such needs. Manageability decreased with age, while individuals with lower economic status preferred family health centers more. Despite a 90.8% satisfaction rate with family health centers, two-thirds of patients directly consulted a neurologist. CONCLUSION: We believe that strengthening the equipment and services at Family Health Centers, implementing a referral system, and ensuring insurance coverage for medications prescribed for conditions diagnosed in primary care will reduce the patient load on secondary and tertiary levels. We anticipate that informing individuals about the services provided at Family Health Centers will contribute to the effective use of primary care.