Comparison of the medical counseling by PC communication between family medicine and internal medicine according to ICPC

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this survey was to assess knowledge of the public on family medicine through the analysis of medical counseling by PC communication and to compare them with that of internal medicine. METHODS: This survey analyzed the contents of medical counseling by PC communication according to ICPC from Oct. 1996 to Jun. 1998. The survey was done by means of E-mail in Nownuri eyes and the selected medical departments were those of those of family medicine and internal medicine in Pusan National University Hospital. RESULTS: The total number of questions was 342, including 181 in the department of family medicine and 161 in internal medicine. In the analysis of medical counseling according to ICPC, there was a significant difference between family medicine and internal medicine in the reasons for questions by components(P<0.001). In family medicine, the reasons were symptoms, complaints(66.9%), diagnoses, diseases(18.8%), treatment, procedure, medication(17.2%), and diagnostic, screening, prevention(5.5%). In internal medicine, the reasons for questions were symptoms, complaints(64.6%), diagnoses, diseases(21.1%), treatment, procedure, medication(9.3%), and test results(4.3%). There was a significant difference between family medicine and internal medicine in the questions by chapters(P<0.05). In family medicine, the questions about digestive system were 28 cases(15.5%), neurological system were 26 cases(14.4%), skin were 26 cases(14.4%), musculoskeletal system were 25 cases(13.8%), and unspecified were 25 cases(13.8%). In internal medicine, the questions about digestive system were 76 cases(47.2%), circulatory system were 21 cases(13.0%), and respiratory system were 15 cases(9.3%). The most common symptom was headache in family medicine and generalized abdominal pain in internal medicine. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences in the age distribution, the reasons for questions, and the contents of questions between family medicine and internal medicine.