Key result
GPs rely on gut feeling and patient background over classical symptoms for chest pain referrals.
Why the study?
Prompt diagnosis and urgent referral of patients with chest pain are critical for acute coronary syndrome treatment, but GPs' reasons for referral decisions are not well understood.
What are the reasons general practitioners refer or do not refer patients presenting with chest pain?
Population
21 GPs and histories of 21 patients presenting with chest pain
Comparison
Reasons for referral versus non-referral of patients with chest pain
Design
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and qualitative analysis
Authors
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GPs' chest pain referral decisions vary by unmeasured factors; leaves open standardized protocols pending quantitative validation.
Observational (n=21)
No
What are the reasons general practitioners refer or do not refer patients presenting with chest pain?
General practitioners rely on a combination of clinical signs, background knowledge, and gut feeling rather than just classical symptoms when deciding to refer patients with chest pain.
Bruyninckx et al. (2009) conducted an observational in Chest pain (n=21). General practitioner evaluation was evaluated on Reasons for referral or non-referral. General practitioners rely on background knowledge of the patient, personal ideas, and gut feeling, rather than exclusively using classical signs and symptoms, to make referral decisions for chest pain.
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