Analysis of Clinical Contents in a Family Practice Clinic of Rural Area according to the ICPC Method

BACKGROUND: Research of clinical contents and proper development of education program is essential in family medicine. Therefore, this study is carried out to obtain data for residency training, and to provide references to family physicians who give primary health care in rural community by analyzing prospectively the clinical contents of new patients in a local family practice clinic. METHODS: The authors visited family practice clinic in a rural area practiced by a family physician board certified in family medicine. There were 3,126 new patients from Jan. 1996 to Dec. 1996 evenly distributed by month and area, 1,000 patients were sampled randomly and the collected data were classified according to the ICPC(International Classification of Primary Care) coding system. RESULTS: Among the selected 1,000 patients, males were 432(43.2%) and females were 568(56.8%). Age distribution was highest In the fifties(50-59 years old) (20.7%). The total number of Reason For Encounter(RFE) was 1,417, the average RFE was 1.41 per patient and the kind of RFEs was 93, among which cough was the most frequent RFE by 233 cases(16.4% ). The 87 kinds of diagnoses were used and URl(Upper Respiratory Infection) accounted for the major portion by 287 cases(21.9%). The diagnostic examination per patient was 0.42. The most frequently used test was x-ray of an extremity by 68 cases(16.1% ). Referrals to other departments were made in 3.3% of visitors of which Internal Medicine was highest(39.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical contents were classified more comprehensively by using ICPC with given code RFE, care process, and diagnosis. More study on ICPC is necessary for classification to help analyze clinical contents in primary care.

A Case of Angioid Streaks Associated with Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum

Angioid streaks are easily recognized although relatively rare. They are typically described as irregularly radiating lines extending from the peripapillary area peripherally. They are usually bilateral, and are characteristically found in the posterior pole. Angioid streaks may occur alone or in association with various systemic diseases. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is a relatively uncommon disorder of elastic tissue involving dermal, ocular, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular tissues. We examined a case of angioid streaks associated with pseudoxanthoma elasticum found in a 31 year-old female and presented a brief review of the relating literatures.

A Seasonal Variation of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Central serous chorioretinopathy was defined as an isolated serous elevation of macular retina unassociated with subretinal blood, optic nerve head pathology, or evidence of other retinochoroidal or systemic disease. A review of 259 consecutive cases of patients under the age of 40 years with central serous chorioretinopathy seen between 1976 and 1985 was performed in order to define temporal patterns of occurrence. Although an increased number of cases were seen in June and July, a statistical trend analysis failed to confirm a defini te seasonal variation(p>0.1).