title: The initial diagnosis of GERD.
abstract: The diagnosis of GERD in primary care settings can be enhanced by the use of structured questionnaires that suggest a high probability of GERD. Clinical outcomes can be improved and costs reduced by adopting this strategy. Using predominant symptoms to determine the path of treatment or the use of an empirical test of proton pump inhibitors has not been proven to be reliable and should be abandoned.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA. nvakil@wisc.edu
authors.forename: Nimish
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vakil
mesh_terms: D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors
keywords: Endoscopy; GERD; Proton pump inhibitor; pH testing