All in the family: headaches and abdominal pain as indicators for consultation patterns in families.

OBJECTIVE

Headaches and abdominal pain are examples of minor ailments that are generally self-limiting. We examined the extent to which patterns of visits to family physicians for minor ailments, such as headaches or abdominal pain, cluster within families.

METHODS

Using information from the Second Dutch National Survey of General Practice for 96 family practices, we analyzed the visits of families with at least 1 child aged 12 years or younger during a period of 12 months.

RESULTS

Family patterns were clearest in the visits of mothers and children. A large part of the similarity in the frequencies of contact by mothers and daughters could be attributed to shared family factors. This finding was especially true for families with a child who had a headache or abdominal pain as the presenting symptom, rather than physical trauma or chronic disease. Within families, we did not find any specific patterns of diagnoses. Diagnoses were recorded by family physicians. In the case of young children, family similarity may have been overestimated because parents initiated the visits and put their child's health problem into words.

CONCLUSIONS

Visits to family physicians for headaches or abdominal pain can be seen as indicators of consultation patterns in families. Family patterns related to minor ailments are likely to be a result of socialization. Family consultation patterns might point toward specific needs of families and consequently at a different approach to treatment.