[Suspected diagnosis of bronchial asthma--development of an algorithm for diagnosis of asthma in general practice].
In 2003, the German Ministry of Health will publish a legal document that will allow for the implementation of disease management programmes for asthma and COPD. Examination of German asthma guidelines reveals that they do not include recommendations for a stepwise diagnostic work-up of patients with relevant symptoms in general practice. Therefore an algorithm was developed for the diagnosis of asthma in general practice, based on both national and the most important foreign guidelines providing specific advice on diagnostic procedures.
Schneider
Antonius
A
Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Sektion Allgemeinmedizin und Versorgungsforschung, Heidelberg. antonius_schneider@med.uniheidelberg.de
Borst
Mathias M
MM
Gerlach
Ferdinand M
FM
Szecsenyi
Joachim
J
D000465:Algorithms; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care