PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - A.S. Hungin
TI  - Use of an open-access gastroscopy service by a general practice: findings and subsequent specialist referral rate
DP  - 1987 Apr 01
TA  - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
PG  - 170--171
VI  - 37
IP  - 297
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/37/297/170.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/37/297/170.full
SO  - J R Coll Gen Pract1987 Apr 01; 37
AB  - An analysis of 102 open-access gastroscopy requests from one general practice over 38 months showed that the detection rate of abnormalities was 58%. Even though no predetermined investigation criteria were used these results compare favourably with gastroscopy findings generally and are superior to the detection rate of lesions using barium meals. Only 12% of the patients who underwent gastroscopy required subsequent referral to a consultant. This represents a major benefit, hitherto undocumented, of an open-access gastroscopy service. Considerations of accuracy, safety and cost effectiveness coupled with the availability of efficacious drugs appear to favour the case for open-access gastroscopy for general practitioners.