Skin disease in a primary care practice.
OBJECTIVE
Family medicine physicians treat a large amount of skin disease. Yet, information is lacking regarding which dermatologic disorders are more likely to present to a family medicine physician. Therefore, we performed a chart review at a family medicine private practice in Islamorada, FL, to determine the percentage of patients presenting with dermatologic disease and to identify the most common diseases encountered.


CONCLUSIONS
On 12 office days in May 2004 to June 2004, 21% of patients seen by a family medicine physician had at least one skin problem, which was the chief complaint 72.2% of the time.


CONCLUSIONS
Infectious etiology and inflammatory conditions accounted for the majority of skin disease diagnosed by the physician. Geography and demographics are of great importance when considering which dermatologic diseases are most likely to present to a given physician.
Fien
Sari
S
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, and Mariners Hospital, Tavernier, FL, USA. bberman@med.miami.edu
Berman
Brian
B
Magrane
Brian
B
D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy