[Descriptive study about physical examination patterns of a Spanish physician's sample].
OBJECTIVE
We describe the basic scheme of physical examination (PE) and the patterns of PE by specialties. We compare items explored by internists and family physicians.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study on the routine physical examination made by a Spanish physician's sample. Seventy-six maneuvres were analysed by a table of frequencies obtaining physical examination patterns by specialties.


RESULTS
A total of 131 physicians of 140 answered the questionnaire (93.5%). They corresponded to Internal Medicine (48.1%), Family and General Medicine (32.1%), other specialties (19.8%). Average age of responders was 37.8 years (Confidence Interval [CI] 95%: 36.3-39.4) and years of experience average were 11.9 (CI 95%: 10.4-13.5). The pattern of general examination used by more than 70% of the physicians surveyed includes maneuvres related to the general examination, respiratory, cardio-circulatory, gastro-intestinal and neurological systems examination. Internists explore weight, temperature, cardiac rate, arterial pressure, neck, jugular ingurgitation, respiratory, abdominal and lymphatic system more often than family physicians (p<0.05). Family physicians perform otoscopy and nose, conches and nasal septum inspection more often than internists (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
PE is a flexible tool physicians adapt to their needs based on the specialty they have. Internists are the specialists who make a more exhaustive physical examination compared with family physicians and other specialists.
Moreno-Salcedo
J M
JM
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Spain. jmorenos@sescam.jccm.es
Solera
J
J
Solera-Muñoz
M
M
Losa-Palacios
A J
AJ
Nieto
J A
JA
Beato
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires