[Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Assessment of activity during a 3-month period: clinical problems, diagnostic and...

All patients referred to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, during a period of three months, were recorded prospectively. In connection with the endoscopy, the investigator completed a questionnaire, related to demographic data, results of endoscopy and therapeutic suggestions. Six weeks later the general practitioner received a second questionnaire concerning diagnostic and therapeutic consequences. At the same time the patient received a third questionnaire, concerning therapeutic and psychological consequences. In all, 200 endoscopies were performed; 147 diagnostic and 53 controls. Of the former, 65 were open access and 82 were admitted to a medical department. We found that the endoscopies were well founded. There was a great diagnostic yield and the patients, in general, followed the therapeutic aim. Furthermore we found a noticeable psychologic effect, independent of endoscopic findings.