Biomaterial Database

An audit of general practitioner referrals for pelvic ultrasound. 1995

S McIlvenny, and J O'Kane

Family Medicine, UAE University Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

Pelvic ultrasound is a widely used diagnostic tool and access to this investigation is not universally available to all general practitioners (GPs). The aim of this study was to assess if GPs working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were using pelvic ultrasound appropriately by determining the rates of diagnostic yield and referral after the investigation. It was then ascertained if these results were affected by the post-graduate training or gender of the doctor. The subjects were adult females who had had a pelvic ultrasound ordered by a GP over a 2-month period. A chart review determined the presenting complaint, the completeness of the request form, the result of the ultrasound and subsequent management of the patient. Diagnostic yields and referral rates were similar to those found in other studies and were unaffected by the post graduate training or gender of the doctor or the amount of information contained in the request form. This study supports the premise that GPs can use pelvic ultrasound appropriately and should be allowed free access to this investigation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008485	Medical Audit	A detailed review and evaluation of selected clinical records by qualified professional personnel for evaluating quality of medical care.	Audit, Medical,Audits, Medical,Medical Audits
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010818	Practice Patterns, Physicians'	Patterns of practice related to diagnosis and treatment as especially influenced by cost of the service requested and provided.	Clinical Practice Patterns,Physician's Practice Patterns,Clinical Practice Pattern,Pattern, Clinical Practice,Patterns, Clinical Practice,Practice Pattern, Clinical,Practice Patterns, Clinical,Practice Patterns, Physician's,Prescribing Patterns, Physician,Physician Practice Patterns,Physician Prescribing Pattern,Physician Prescribing Patterns,Physician's Practice Pattern,Physicians' Practice Pattern,Physicians' Practice Patterns,Practice Pattern, Physician's,Practice Pattern, Physicians',Practice Patterns, Physician,Prescribing Pattern, Physician
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011248	Pregnancy Complications	Conditions or pathological processes associated with pregnancy. They can occur during or after pregnancy, and range from minor discomforts to serious diseases that require medical interventions. They include diseases in pregnant females, and pregnancies in females with diseases.	Adverse Birth Outcomes,Complications, Pregnancy,Adverse Birth Outcome,Birth Outcome, Adverse,Complication, Pregnancy,Outcome, Adverse Birth,Pregnancy Complication
D012017	Referral and Consultation	The practice of sending a patient to another program or practitioner for services or advice which the referring source is not prepared to provide.	Consultation,Gatekeepers, Health Service,Hospital Referral,Second Opinion,Consultation and Referral,Health Service Gatekeepers,Hospital Referrals,Referral,Referral, Hospital,Referrals, Hospital,Consultations,Gatekeeper, Health Service,Health Service Gatekeeper,Opinion, Second,Opinions, Second,Referrals,Second Opinions
D005194	Family Practice	A medical specialty concerned with the provision of continuing, comprehensive primary health care for the entire family.	Family Practices,Practice, Family,Practices, Family
D005260	Female		Females
D005831	Genital Diseases, Female	Pathological processes involving the female reproductive tract (GENITALIA, FEMALE).	Gynecologic Diseases,Female Genital Diseases,Diseases, Female Genital,Diseases, Gynecologic,Female Genital Disease,Genital Disease, Female,Gynecologic Disease