Diagnosis and interpretation of injuries: a study of Dutch general practitioners.
This study explores the ability of Dutch general practitioners (GPs) in recognising types of injury. In the three sample cases, 48-91% classified the injury correctly. Only 9% of GPs recognised self-harm injury and in the 3rd case (child abuse) only 15% referred to the improbability of the account given. Only 13% appeared able to assess two or three cases (almost) correctly. Recognition and description by Dutch GPs of these injuries is inadequate. This may have far-reaching consequences for the victims. The increasing incidence of cases of violence demands that more attention should be paid to the issue during both basic and specialist medical training.
Reijnders
Udo J L
UJ
Municipal Public Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ureijnders@gggd.amsterdam.nl
van Baasbank
Michiel C
MC
van der Wal
Gerrit
G
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D008192:Deception; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D017579:Domestic Violence; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010821:Physicians, Family; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires