About the project
Patients with symptoms without an objective medical explanation represent a special challenge in general practice. The term “ multisymptom patient” describes patients that present various symptom clusters that have overlap clinicially, regardless of diagnostic label.
Objectives
The project aims to describe the prevalence of self-reported symptoms in a general population and in a general practice setting, the overall objective being to gather new knowlwdge that might help this patient group. We analyse possible associations between symptoms, diagnosis, afunctional ability and adverse life experiences, past and present.
Outcomes
We have found that the number of symptoms reported in a general population is associated with various sociodemographic factors and health variables, and is strongly associated with a decline in functional ability. The number of pain sites is strongly associated with the number of other common symptoms reported in the population.
Background
The project is based on data from two survey settings: a postal questionnaire in a general population in Norway, sent to seven age cohorts, at three different points in time over 14 years, and a survey in a general practice setting, where general practitionners and their consecutive patients are asked to answer questions on symptoms,diagnosis, functional ability and whether the symptoms reported may be viewed in a “medically unexplained” context. We will be able to compare patient and doctor’s responses.
Financing
The project is funded by AMFF, General Practice Research Foundation
Cooperation
Professor Peter Croft, University of Keele, UK