The national ambulatory medical care survey: symptom classification.

This report is the first attempt of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) to develop a methodology for classifying patients' symptoms, complaints, problems , and reasons for seeking ambulatory medical care. The coding scheme presented here was generated solely for use in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), but it may have wider application. A brief description of NAMCS and the reasons for collecting symptom information are given first. The problems encountered, the rationale used, the met hods employed in developing the scheme, and a detailed description of the classification follow. The tabular list is presented as appendix 1, and an alphabetical index of terms is presented as appendix II. The proposed use of the coding system and its subsequent evaluation are also dicussed. The terms "complaints," "symptoms, " "problems," and "reasons for visit" are used cullcctively throughout this report. All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.