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Consensus Guidelines for Evaluating and Treating Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in the Primary Care Setting

  • Original Research Article
  • Consensus Guidelines for UGI Symptoms
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Abstract

Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) disease represents a significant part of the primary care physician’s workload and is ultimately responsible for a major portion of the costs relating to his or her drug prescribing. This paper outlines the scale of the problem and the possibility of a structured management plan for UGI disease. Although this type of strategy is not new, the International Gastro Primary Care Group (IGPCG) has approached it from a practical standpoint that addresses the concerns of general practitioners and the fears and anxieties of patients.

In addition, the direct representation of this model with a cost-effective programme is the first opportunity to develop strategies, in primary care, for testing a protocol for the management of UGI disease. The approach is aimed at the primary care setting and is adaptable for use in different cultural groups and healthcare systems.

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Whitaker, M.J. Consensus Guidelines for Evaluating and Treating Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in the Primary Care Setting. Pharmacoeconomics 14 (Suppl 2), 5–10 (1998). https://doi.org/10.2165/00019053-199814002-00002

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