ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relationship between the reasons for seeking care on demand and use of the health services on the one hand and disturbances in the family dynamic, on the other, with an attempt to determine indicators of family dysfunction. DESIGN: Crossover descriptive study where the sample was obtained by systematic sampling. The family APGAR test was applied to the whole sample, along with an analysis of the use of services and the reasons for attendance. SETTING: Almanjayar Health Centre during the first 6 months of 1992. PATIENTS: 356 patients over 18. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We confirmed that the likelihood of belonging to a dysfunctional family was 77%, with a risk of 6.5 for hyper and normal users. Regarding reasons for seeking care, those who attended because of ill-defined signs and symptoms are 6.21 times more likely to present a family dysfunction than the rest of those interviewed. Patients with ill-defined symptoms or psychiatric disorders who are hyper-users are 7.20 times more likely to present some family dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: It will be useful to carry out a study of family function among hyper-users, those who attend because of ill-defined signs and symptoms and people with mental health problems.
