Use of general practitioner services among youth and young adults in Norway from 2006 to 2021

Abstract

Objective To describe the frequency and content of contacts with general practitioners (GPs) among youth and young adults by sex, age and time, emphasizing mental health, sexual health and respiratory tract infections. Design Registry-based population-wide cohort study. Setting General practice in Norway 2006–2021. Subjects Norwegian residents aged 13–25 within the study period. Main outcome measures Contacts with GPs and out-of-hours services, including type of contact, specific procedures and diagnoses. Results Average number of GP consultations increased over the study period for all age groups. Conversation therapy and time-consuming consultations increased over time, while chlamydia testing and contraceptive guidance decreased among young women. Consultations with mental health diagnoses increased substantially over the study period for all age groups. Use of GP and out-of-hours services increased with age, with a peak at the end of upper secondary school. Youth more often met their own regular GP when consulting for mental health diagnoses than for respiratory tract infections. Conclusion This study confirmed the continuing trend of increasing use of general practice services among youth, with an increase in conversation therapy and consultations with mental health diagnoses. Procedures related to sexual health became less common. Youth usually meet their regular GP for consultations, in particular those whose diagnosis indicates the highest need of continuity.