Sayaka Saito1, Kei Mukohara. 1. Department of General Medicine and Primary Care, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Tokyo. saya@nn.iij4u.or.jp
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many women's health centers (WHC) in Japan use female obstetrician-gynecologists, not trained in primary care medicine, as providers. It is not known whether the clinical needs of patients at WHC are met by these providers. OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical needs of patients attending a WHC in Japan by examining their presenting problems and diagnoses. METHODS: We performed a case-series study of 53 patients at a WHC in a public medical center in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Charts were reviewed for the presenting problems and diagnoses. RESULTS: The most common presenting complaints were related to the female genital system or the breast (42%) and psychological problems (13%). At discharge, the most common diagnoses were psychological (42%). The next most common diagnoses were related to the female genital system or the breast (36%). The remainder (22%) were related to a variety of organ systems. CONCLUSION: Patients at the WHC presented with not only gynecological but also general medical and psychological problems and had discharge diagnoses involving a variety of organ systems. Physicians at WHCs should be trained in primary care medicine to meet the clinical needs of patients.
BACKGROUND: Many women's health centers (WHC) in Japan use female obstetrician-gynecologists, not trained in primary care medicine, as providers. It is not known whether the clinical needs of patients at WHC are met by these providers. OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical needs of patients attending a WHC in Japan by examining their presenting problems and diagnoses. METHODS: We performed a case-series study of 53 patients at a WHC in a public medical center in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Charts were reviewed for the presenting problems and diagnoses. RESULTS: The most common presenting complaints were related to the female genital system or the breast (42%) and psychological problems (13%). At discharge, the most common diagnoses were psychological (42%). The next most common diagnoses were related to the female genital system or the breast (36%). The remainder (22%) were related to a variety of organ systems. CONCLUSION:Patients at the WHC presented with not only gynecological but also general medical and psychological problems and had discharge diagnoses involving a variety of organ systems. Physicians at WHCs should be trained in primary care medicine to meet the clinical needs of patients.