title: [Why are patients referred to outpatient clinic of rheumatology?].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Revmatologisk avdeling Aust-Agder sentralsjukehus 4800 Arendal. jtgran@c2i.net
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Gran
mesh_terms: 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