Left-vs. Right-Handedness: A Preliminary Survey of Health Status and Health Care Utilization.

Left-handedness has been linked to dyslexia, migraines, autoimmune disease and early-onset dementia. A pilot study to investigate further the association among handedness, health status and health-care utilization was carried out in a group family practice setting. Variables included frequency of types of medical problems, frequency of visits to the physician, number of referrals to specialists, and number of laboratory and radiographical investigations. A short questionnaire assessing handedness was distributed to 613 randomly selected patients visiting the family practice clinic over a one-month period. Twenty-eight left-handers were identified among 520 patients. These were matched with 28 controls, after which charts for all subjects were reviewed to evaluate the study variables. No statistical differences were found between the two groups. Methodological problems included determining true handedness (as distinct from mixed), reviewing of charts for data, and coding and assessing the data. Suggestions are made for improving and facilitating further research in this area for family practice.