Objective: To analyse patterns of patient utilisation of the after hours se
rvice at Sydney Sexual Health Centre (SSHC).
Method: A retrospective cross sectional database study compared all new day
time and after hours patients who registered for a medical consultation at
SSHC between August 1994 and February 1995. Daytime and after hours attende
rs were compared using demographic and behavioural factors and for prevalen
ce of STDs and HIV using logistic regression analysis.
Results: Of the 1662 eligible patients, 1362 (81.9%) attended during daytim
e hours, and 300 (18.1%) attended after hours. There was no significant dif
ference in after hours attendance between patients living in inner compared
with outer metropolitan zones. Using logistic regression analysis, being f
emale (p=0.0008), being between 20 and 39 years of age (p=0.008), being emp
loyed (p<0.001), and having no previous STD/genitourinary condition (p=0.03
4) were the factors significantly associated with after hours attendance.
Conclusions: The evening service was disproportionately utilised by a patie
nt group not defined as "high risk" in the objectives of the service. This
study challenges the assumption that evening clinics are always the way to
reach high risk groups.