Abstract
Introduction : This study was conducted to estimate actual reasons for encounters and health problems, which is difficult to assess in a free-access system, in an area with limited access to advanced care by using the International Classification of Primary care second edition (ICPC-2).
Methods : We conducted a retrospective open cohort study on an isolated island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. We encoded reasons for encounter (RFE) and health problems of all patients using ICPC-2.
Results : The total number of visits to the clinic was 5682 a year (age 0-14 years, n=862 ; age 15-64 years, n=2205 ; age 65 or older, n=2615). The top 3 RFE classified by organic systems were R (respiratory), S (skin) and L (musculoskeletal). Dementia (ICPC-2 code : P-70) was eighth in the rank of chronic health problem among elderly people. Visits due to health maintenance/prevention (ICPC-2 code : A-98) was third in the rank of new health problem among children.
Conclusion : In the present study, rankings of major RFE and health problems are similar to those in previous studies. Among elderly people, however, the rank order of dementia among chronic health problems was higher than that in previous studies. In addition, among children, the rank order of health maintenance/prevention among new health problems was higher than that in previous studies.
