[Analysis of the doubts of primary care doctors].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the doubts, their number and type that doctors have during routine clinics in primary care, as well as establishing methods that may be used to resolve them.

DESIGN

Prevalence study.

SETTING

Health centres in the provinces of A Coruña and Lugo.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 81 primary care doctors, selected by simple random sampling. The sample size was calculated to obtain a total of 500 doubts. Only 2 doctors refused to take part.

MEASUREMENTS

Number and types of doubts. Systems used to resolve them and when they were carried out.

RESULTS

A mean of 1.7 doubts were detected (95% confidence interval; 1.59-1.82) for every 10 patients, of which 92% were seen as clinical problems. The 12 most frequent doubts made up 75% of all those that arose, with the interpretation of a clinical sign and treatment indications being the most common. In 51.6% of cases an attempt was made to resolve the doubt either during the consultation or during that day. A total of 35.7% of the doubts led to new appointments, either in the clinic itself or as a referral (23%). A total of 81.5% of those surveyed never used the Internet during the consultation and only 6.2% did this daily or often.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of doubts that primary care doctor has is relatively small (1.7 for every 10 patients). The most common way to try to resolve them is by referral to a specialist.