[General practitioners' handling of patients with dyspepsia]

The handling of patients with dyspepsia by 102 general practitioners was investigated prospectively using a standardised application form for gastroscopy followed by a questionnaire to the practitioners. A mean of 5.3 indications were stated among 16 performed referral possibilities in 143 applications. Referral because of long-standing symptoms, ineffective treatment trial and atypical dyspepsia were more often stated than certain important risk factors (high age, NSAID-ingestion etc.). In 23% of cases no specific suspicion of organic disease was stated. The questionnaire was answered by 85%. More than 90% of doctors would use a treatment trial before further investigation of dyspeptic patients with first time consultation. A wide variation of medical empirical treatment was indicated. The practitioners wished to retain the open access model for referring, but a great majority desired practical guidelines for the handling of dyspeptic patients. This study confirms the relevance of such guidelines to improve present practice.