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Research article
Xiaoqin Lu
Capital Medical University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6045-3421
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Physical examination is a central part of consultation. Evidence showed that clinical use of physical examination in hospital has decreased, but little is known about physical examination performed by general practitioners in community health service institutions.
Objective
This study aimed to investigate general practitioners’ performance of physical examination in community health service institutions in Beijing.
Methods
An observational study was conducted in 5 community health service institutions in Beijing, China between November 2019 and January 2020. And 11 participated general practitioners were observed for one workday. Information was recorded including patient characteristics, patient reasons for encounter, physical examinations provided by general practitioners, the length of consultation and time spent on specific activities in consultations.
Results
A total of 682 consultations were recorded from 11 general practitioners. Physical examination occurred in 15.8% of the consultations. Among the recorded 126 examinations, most were distributed in “Head, face, and neck examination” (n = 54, 42.9%) and “Cardiovascular examination” (n = 55, 43.7%), and no physical examination was performed on skin, male genitalia, female breasts and genitalia, and neurological systems. A total of 2823 minutes of activities were recorded. general practitioners only spent 3.1% of their time on physical examination, less than the time spent on taking history (18.2%), test (4.9%), diagnosis (22.7%), therapy (38.4%), and health education (8.6%). The mean length of time spent on physical examination portions was 0.8 ± 0.4 minutes.
Conclusion
Physical examination was infrequently performed by general practitioners in community health service institutions in Beijing. More time and attention were needed for general practitioners performing a careful and appropriate physical examination in primary care.
Keywords
Beijing, consultation, community health service, general practitioner, physical examination
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Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 11 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 11 Apr, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 10 Apr, 2021
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 08 Apr, 2021
Review #2 received
Received 08 Apr, 2021
Editor assigned
On 29 Mar, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 29 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 29 Mar, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 06 Mar, 2021
Editor invited
On 01 Mar, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
General Practice
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Family Practice. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Xiaoqin Lu
Capital Medical University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6045-3421
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 11 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 11 Apr, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 10 Apr, 2021
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 08 Apr, 2021
Review #2 received
Received 08 Apr, 2021
Editor assigned
On 29 Mar, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 29 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 29 Mar, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 06 Mar, 2021
Editor invited
On 01 Mar, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
General Practice
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Physical examination is a central part of consultation. Evidence showed that clinical use of physical examination in hospital has decreased, but little is known about physical examination performed by general practitioners in community health service institutions.
Objective
This study aimed to investigate general practitioners’ performance of physical examination in community health service institutions in Beijing.
Methods
An observational study was conducted in 5 community health service institutions in Beijing, China between November 2019 and January 2020. And 11 participated general practitioners were observed for one workday. Information was recorded including patient characteristics, patient reasons for encounter, physical examinations provided by general practitioners, the length of consultation and time spent on specific activities in consultations.
Results
A total of 682 consultations were recorded from 11 general practitioners. Physical examination occurred in 15.8% of the consultations. Among the recorded 126 examinations, most were distributed in “Head, face, and neck examination” (n = 54, 42.9%) and “Cardiovascular examination” (n = 55, 43.7%), and no physical examination was performed on skin, male genitalia, female breasts and genitalia, and neurological systems. A total of 2823 minutes of activities were recorded. general practitioners only spent 3.1% of their time on physical examination, less than the time spent on taking history (18.2%), test (4.9%), diagnosis (22.7%), therapy (38.4%), and health education (8.6%). The mean length of time spent on physical examination portions was 0.8 ± 0.4 minutes.
Conclusion
Physical examination was infrequently performed by general practitioners in community health service institutions in Beijing. More time and attention were needed for general practitioners performing a careful and appropriate physical examination in primary care.
Figure 1
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