Evaluation of Dutch General Practitioners ultrasound referrals and opportunities for point-of-care ultrasound: A retrospective analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

General practitioners (GPs) frequently refer patients for abdominal ultrasound. Depending on the clinical context, a 'triage ultrasound' can assess multiple potential causes of abdominal symptoms, while a 'targeted ultrasound' (point-of-care ultrasound, POCUS) focuses on specific indications (e.g. cholelithiasis).

Objective

To assess whether medical questions posed by GPs in abdominal ultrasound referral letters are adequate for radiologists to perform their examination, and to identify indications for POCUS by GPs based on exclusion rates and alternative findings in radiological reports.

Methods

Retrospective study analysing GP referral letters with corresponding radiology reports referred for abdominal ultrasound. Key variables: GP's medical question, ind

SUBMITTER: Geivers J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12802515 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature