Why do patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders consult their primary care physicians?
Symptoms are a daily occurrence in the lives of most people, and many do not consult their doctors for their clinical complaints. Information on the frequency of musculoskeletal disorders and on healthcare utilization patterns can be obtained from population surveys or from records of visits to primary care physicians. A decision to consult a primary care physician for musculoskeletal disorders is not based simply on the presence or absence of physical symptoms, but also involves a complex mixture of social and psychological factors.
Uhlig
Till
T
Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway. uhlig@nrrk.diakonsyk.no
Hagen
Kåre Birger
KB
Kvien
Tore Kristian
TK
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003657:Decision Making; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009664:Norway; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden