Towards a clinically useful diagnosis for mild-to-moderate conditions of medically unexplained symptoms in general practice: a mixed methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Symptoms that cannot be attributed to any known conventionally defined disease are highly prevalent in general practice. Yet, only severe cases are captured by the current diagnostic classifications of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). This study explores the clinical usefulness of a proposed new diagnostic category for mild-to-moderate conditions of MUS labelled 'multiple symptoms'.

Methods

A mixed methods approach was used. For two weeks, 20 general practitioners (GPs) classified symptoms presented in consecutive consultations according to the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) supplemented with the new diagnostic category 'multiple symptoms'. The GPs' experiences were subsequently explored by focus group interviews. Interview data were anal

SUBMITTER: Rask MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4075929 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature