Diagnostic agreement between primary care physicians and neurologists.
The ability of primary care physicians (PCPs) to diagnose neurologic disorders was assessed from the records of 166 patients referred to the neurology outpatient clinic in one year. At the time of referral, 74.7% were correctly diagnosed. Primary care physicians were competent in the diagnosis of cerebrovascular accidents, epilepsy, space-occupying lesions, dementia, extrapyramidal and cerebellar disorders. More specific diagnosis was difficult at the primary care level in cases of headache, spinal cord and peripheral nerve disorders. The implications of these results and possible reasons for them are discussed. Solutions to improve on this situation are recommended with emphasis on both undergraduate and postgraduate training in neurological bedside skills. The complementary roles of the primary care physician and the neurologist are stressed.
Al-Ansary
L A
LA
Departments of Family and Community Medicine and Neurology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Al-Rajeh
S M
SM