Prevalence and management of symptom diagnoses in children in general practice.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the prevalence of symptom diagnoses in children in general practice and the management strategies performed by GPs.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

The Netherlands.

PARTICIPANTS

Participant data registered in a Dutch practice-based primary care research network (Family Medicine Network [FaMe-Net]).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

All episodes of care with at least 1 contact for a symptom diagnosis in 2018 as well as management strategies within each episode of care including the number and type of diagnostic interventions, therapeutic interventions, and referrals.

RESULTS

Overall, 6162 children under 15 years of age and registered with GP practices were included in the cohort. Among them, 2767 (44.9%) had at least 1 contact with their GP for at least 1 symptom diagnosis, and 161 (2.6%) had at least 1 persistent symptom diagnosis. Constipation, wheezing, and weakness were the most commonly found persistent symptoms. For persistent symptom diagnoses, GPs indicated more therapeutic interventions (n=217, 40.1%) compared to diagnostic interventions (n=175, 32.3%) or referrals (n=149, 27.6%).

CONCLUSION

Symptom diagnoses are highly prevalent in children in general practice. Future research should focus on which children are at risk of developing persistent symptom diagnoses and how to manage them.