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Table 2 Relative risks (RR) for determinants of nurse telephone consultation alone (NTAA) and return consultations after NTAA or after GP contact. Univariable and multivariable associations (95% CI).

From: Nurse telephone triage in out-of-hours GP practice: determinants of independent advice and return consultation

 

Nurse telephone advice alone (NTAA)

Return consultations

   

After NTAA

After NTAA

After GP contact

 

Univariable associations

Multivariable model

Univariable associations

Multivariable model

Multivariable model

Patient characteristics

RR (95%CI)

RR (95%CI)

RR (95%CI)

RR (95%CI)

RR (95%CI)

Male

1.00 (ref)

 

1.00 (ref)

  

Female

1.00 (0.84–1.19)

-

0.85 (0.61–1.14)

-

-

Public insurance

1.00 (ref)

 

1.00 (ref)

  

Private insurance

1.02 (0.84–1.22)

-

1.01 (0.73–1.34)

-

-

Non-deprived area

1.00 (ref)

 

1.00 (ref)

  

Deprived area

0.90 (0.75–1.08)

-

0.88 (0.64–1.17)

-

-

Distance per 5 km*

1.03 (0.78–1.31)

-

1.38 (0.94–1.83)

-

-

Age per 10 yrs**

0.92 (0.90–0.95)

0.96 (0.93–0.99)

0.99 (0.94–1.05)

1.02 (0.99–1.05)

1.02 (1.00–1.04)

Day or evening

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

Night

1.52 (1.37–1.65)

1.63 (1.48–1.76)

1.33 (1.07–1.58)

1.23 (1.04–1.40)

1.28 (1.13–1.41)

1 or 2 problems presented

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

3 problems presented

0.65 (0.52–0.82)

0.65 (0.51–0.83)

0.91 (0.63–1.25)

1.01 (0.82–1.16)

0.95 (0.86–1.03)

Cough

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

1.00 (ref)

Chest pain

0.17 (0.07–0.45)

0.18 (0.06–0.47)

#

#

0.81 (0.56–1.00)

Localised abdominal pain

0.36 (0.17–0.75)

0.35 (0.16–0.74)

1.22 (0.74–1.43)

#

1.50 (1.18–1.74)

Shortness of breath

0.44 (0.25–0.76)

0.41 (0.22–0.74)

1.21 (0.79–1.46)

1.21 (0.58–1.88)

0.90 (0.71–1.06)

Generalised abdominal pain

0.92 (0.58–1.39)

0.86 (0.53–1.32)

0.23 (0.07–0.70)

0.62 (0.29–0.92)

1.34 (1.09–1.53)

Sore throat

1.17 (0.80–1.62)

1.34 (0.92–1.82)

0.83 (0.41–1.38)

0.91 (0.55–1.24)

0.95 (0.77–1.09)

Fever

1.22 (0.89–1.59)

1.17 (0.83–1.56)

0.92 (0.54–1.36)

1.00 (0.66–1.31)

1.06 (0.90–1.17)

Headache

1.33 (0.96–1.73)

1.40 (1.00–1.81)

0.22 (0.08–0.64)

0.61 (0.31–0.90)

0.80 (0.56–0.96)

Vomiting

1.39 (1.10–1.68)

1.44 (1.20–1.63)

0.25 (0.11–0.54)

0.62 (0.39–0.85)

0.90 (0.73–1.02)

Earache

1.51 (1.30–1.68)

1.49 (1.18–1.78)

0.93 (0.56–1.36)

0.99 (0.69–1.27)

0.94 (0.75–1.07)

Nurse-related variables

     

Male

1.00 (ref)

 

1.00 (ref)

  

Female

1.03 (0.73–1.38)

-

1.18 (0.87–1.51)

-

n.a.

Experience < 20 years

1.00 (ref)

 

1.00 (ref)

  

Experience > 20 years

1.02 (0.79–1.29)

-

0.86 (0.59–1.19)

-

n.a.

No. of specialities ≤ 3

1.00 (ref)

 

1.00 (ref)

  

No. of specialities > 3

0.97 (0.73–1.25)

-

1.23 (0.95–1.51)

-

n.a.

No experience in GP practice

1.00 (ref)

 

1.00 (ref)

  

Experience in GP practice

0.98 (0.70–1.32)

-

1.29 (1.03–1.55)

-

n.a.

  1. GP = general practitioner; ref = reference category; * distance to GP cooperative, reference 0–1 kilometre; ** reference 0 years; age and distance were modelled as continuous variables; # numbers too low for analysis; n.a. = not applicable