Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/6069
Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Investigating tiredness in Australian general practice - Do pathology tests help in diagnosis? |
Author: | Gialamas, A. Beilby, J. Pratt, N. Henning, R. Marley, J. Roddick, J. |
Citation: | Australian Family Physician, 2003; 32(8):663-666 |
Publisher: | Royal Australian College of General Practitioners |
Issue Date: | 2003 |
ISSN: | 0300-8495 |
Statement of Responsibility: | A Gialamas, JJ Beilby, NL Pratt, R Henning, JE Marley and JF Roddick |
Abstract: | INTRODUCTION: Tiredness is a common presentation in general practice for which pathology tests are commonly ordered. Our aim was to study their utilisation for tiredness. METHODS: We examined an integrated database which contains the medical records for 58,139 patients and their 696,518 associated general practitioner encounters. Three hundred and forty-two patients and their 1652 associated encounters were randomly selected out of 12,291 patients and their 26,748 associated encounters that had mentioned tiredness (or a synonym). RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-one patients (53%) had at least one pathology test ordered at any time in their episode of care. Patients over 60 years of age, patients who consulted their GP more than once and patients without comorbidity were more likely to have a pathology test ordered. Only 12 patients (3%) had a significant clinical diagnosis based on an abnormal pathology test. CONCLUSION: Pathology testing for patients presenting with tiredness is high. Most tests do not yield a significant clinical diagnosis. |
Keywords: | fatigue laboratory techniques and procedures utilization family practice etiology statistics and numerical data |
Description: | Copyright © 2003 Australian College of General Practitioners Copyright to Australian Family Physician. Reproduced with permission. Permission to reproduce must be sought from the publisher, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. |
Published version: | http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=376653548817410;res=IELHEA |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest 5 General Practice publications |
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hdl_6069.pdf | 126.66 kB | Publisher's PDF | View/Open |
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