Diagnosis and interpretation of injuries: a study of Dutch general practitioners

This study explores the ability of Dutch general practitioners (GPs) in recognising types of injury. In the three sample cases, 48-91% classified the injury correctly. Only 9% of GPs recognised self-harm injury and in the 3rd case (child abuse) only 15% referred to the improbability of the account given. Only 13% appeared able to assess two or three cases (almost) correctly. Recognition and description by Dutch GPs of these injuries is inadequate. This may have far-reaching consequences for the victims. The increasing incidence of cases of violence demands that more attention should be paid to the issue during both basic and specialist medical training.