[ICPC in general practice].

Abstract

The aim of this pilot study was to describe the distribution of diagnoses in general practice using International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC). The study took place in a group practice in Kongsberg, Southern Norway, in May 1991. It was of particular interest to find out how often doctors could use a disease as diagnosis (ICPC component 7) after the meeting with the patient and how often they used a symptom or complaint (ICPC component 1) as diagnosis. Results from 1,189 consultations show that a disease was used as diagnosis in 61% of all cases. A complaint or a symptom was used in 21%. Women were more often given a symptom as diagnosis. The study also shows that disorders of the respiratory and musculoskeletal systems were the most common diagnoses, accounting for 18% and 16% respectively. During one month, 247 diagnoses were used. Inter-observer tests of reliability showed that 81% of all consultations were coded to the same chapter.