ABDOMINAL-PAIN IN NEW-ZEALAND GENERAL-PRACTICE

Aim. To describe the clinical management of patients presenting with a bdominal pain to New Zealand general practitioners, Methods. A study s ample was drawn from a computer database of general practice consultat ion records. Over the 12 month period 1 July 1993 to 30 June 1994, 460 6 consultations for abdominal pain were analysed, Results. Of patients seen in general practice 2.1% consulted with abdominal pain, The majo rity of patients were women aged 16-45, who presented within one week of onset of symptoms. A diagnosis was recorded in only 55% of cases bu t management did not appear to be dependent on a diagnosis being made, Treatment was offered in 15% of consultations, though only 34.9% resu lted in a prescription, Conclusions. Abdominal pain is a common presen tation in general practice, We should be aware that it is often of ind eterminate aetiology and often resolves spontaneously.