Abdominal pain in New Zealand general practice.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical management of patients presenting with abdominal pain to New Zealand general practitioners.


METHODS
A study sample was drawn from a computer database of general practice consultation records. Over the 12 month period 1 July 1993 to 30 June 1994, 4606 consultations for abdominal pain were analysed.


RESULTS
Of patients seen in general practice 2.1% consulted with abdominal pain. The majority of patients were women aged 16-45, who presented within one week of onset of symptoms. A diagnosis was recorded in only 55% of cases but management did not appear to be dependent on a diagnosis being made. Treatment was offered in 75% of consultations, though only 34.9% resulted in a prescription.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal pain is a common presentation in general practice. We should be aware that it is often of indeterminate aetiology and often resolves spontaneously.
Frear
D
D
Department of General Practice, Dunedin School of Medicine.
Tilyard
M W
MW
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis