[Why are patients referred to outpatient clinic of rheumatology?].
BACKGROUND
Increasing numbers of patients are referred from general practitioners to out-patient clinics of rheumatology. Better selection of patients referred may shorten the long waiting lists. The study aimed at analysing causes of referrals with particular emphasis on determining which diagnostic problems that most often occur among such referrals.


METHODS
All referrals from general practitioners to an out-patient clinic of rheumatology during one year were analysed.


RESULTS
Diagnosis was the main cause of referral in 78% of the cases. The diagnosis of the specialist was identical to that of the general practitioner in 44% of the cases. The lowest degree of correlation was found for patients referred with rheumatoid arthritis and primary Sjögren's syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome appear to be difficult in general practice.
Gran
J T
JT
Revmatologisk avdeling Aust-Agder sentralsjukehus 4800 Arendal. jtgran@c2i.net
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data