EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INJURY-RELATED VISITS TO OFFICE-BASED PHYSICIANS IN THE UNITED-STATES, 1991

The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) is a sample survey of office-based physicians in the United States conducted by the Nati onal Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Pre vention. The 1991 sample included 2,540 physicians; 34,183 Patient Rec ord forms were completed. In 1991, there were over 66 million injury-r elated visits to office-based physicians representing 10% of total vis its; this estimate was similar to other sources of data. Injury patien ts seen in physicians' offices were more likely to be young or middle- aged adults, white, and male. Back symptoms was the most commonly ment ioned reason for visit and back sprains was the most frequently record ed diagnosis. The cost of injury-related visits to office-based physic ians was estimated to be over $3.5 billion.