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The performance of senior house officers (SHOs) and their advisers in accident and emergency departments was compared in the diagnosis of abdominal pain in 711 patients. Accuracy of diagnosis was 63 per cent for advisers and 54 per cent for SHOs. Overall, the adviser improves the diagnosis of the SHO in only 6 per cent of cases. The SHOs refer accurately in 94 per cent of cases, and the advisers improve the SHO referrals in only 1 per cent of patients. It is argued that the time-consuming process of calling a surgeon away from a ward or theatre to advise in the receiving room is of little value, and avoidance of this step would enable patients to be admitted more rapidly.

Original publication

DOI

10.1002/bjs.1800751209

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Surg

Publication Date

12/1988

Volume

75

Pages

1173 - 1175

Keywords

Abdomen, Acute, Clinical Competence, Emergency Service, Hospital, England, Humans, Medical Staff, Hospital, Medicine, Referral and Consultation, Specialization