This cross-sectional study describes the health problems and the health care of asylum seekers and refugees from the point of view of accident and emergency (A and E) physicians at the major hospital in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The physicians filled in a detailed questionnaire and documented all consultations of asylum seekers/refugees and of a control group of patients during eleven weeks (2 x 98 consultations). 76% of these asylum seekers/refugees originated from former Yugoslavia. The distribution of the main ICD-coded diagnoses did not differ between asylum seekers/refugees and the control group after correction for age. In comparison with the asylum seekers and refugees attending GPs, injuries were much more common in the A and E department attenders (37% vs. 8%). Asylum seekers/refugees and the patients in the control group did not differ in respect to being classified as an emergency case (58% vs. 65%). There were also no differences in hospitalization rates (29% vs. 36%). Asylum seekers/refugees who were registered with a GP attended the A and department more often during the night than during the day compared to patients who were not registered with a GP. Consultations which have been classified as emergencies occurred more frequently during the day than at night time. The time of residence in Switzerland was negatively associated with the registration with a GP and with being classified as an emergency case. A lack of experience in caring for asylum seekers and refugees and of specific training in this field has been the major complaint by the A and E physicians. Asylum seekers should be introduced to the tasks functions of the various sectors of the national health care system as early as possible. Registration with a GP in the community should be promoted.

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general practice emergency hospitalization refugee minority group human Refugees middle aged statistics health service controlled study Aged morbidity general practitioner Yugoslavia emergency ward Health Services Needs and Demand Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent Minority Groups male female patient referral Referral and Consultation Article accident experience adult emergency health service Utilization Review Emergency Service, Hospital health care system Switzerland Family Practice Child