General practitioners acceptance of the validity of chronic fatigue syndrome as a diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE
To identify whether general practitioners accept the validity of a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).


METHODS
An anonymous questionnaire was sent out to 98 general practitioners in Otago.


RESULTS
The clinical validity of chronic fatigue syndrome was accepted by 74 (90%); 57 believed they had sufficient knowledge about the condition to make a differential diagnosis; 72 indicated they had had patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in the past; 62 currently had patients; there is a minimum prevalence rate of 167/100,000 in the general practice population; 83 replies were received.


CONCLUSIONS
The 90% acceptance rate of chronic fatigue syndrome as a clinically valid diagnosis suggests that amongst the Otago general practitioners the controversy had receded. The low numbers suggest that they are on the conservative end of the diagnostic spectrum.
Denz-Penhey
H
H
Department of General Practice, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin.
Murdoch
J C
JC
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D010821:Physicians, Family; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires