Abdominal pain in a university family practice setting

Abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints in the family practice setting. Abdominal pain has been the subject of many studies; however, the focus has been on abdominal pain as a final diagnosis rather than as a symptom or presenting complaint. A retrospective audit examined 133 charts of patients 18 years of age or older presenting to the University of Iowa Family Practice Center from July 1976 to October 1978. Abdominal pain, etiology undetermined, accounted for approximately one half of the final diagnoses. The patients tended to be young and female. Almost one half of the patients were seen only once for the problem. Conclusions concerning management are drawn, and suggestions for further studies are made.