BACKGROUND: In @entity1 with @entity662 , GPs have to identify those with @entity301 ( @entity301 ) to arrange for further investigation and treatment. Previous studies have shown that only between 8% and 18% of @entity1 have @entity301 . In primary care, the history is the most important diagnostic tool. However, there are only few studies exploring diagnostic criteria that GPs actually use in their daily practice. OBJECTIVE: To identify GPs' diagnostic criteria for diagnosing @entity301 in @entity1 with @entity662 . METHODS: In a semi-structured interview, 23 GPs were asked to describe their individual diagnostic criteria in two of their @entity1 with @entity662 they had prospectively identified. Interview data were taped, transcribed and analysed qualitatively. RESULTS: Histories of 39 @entity1 were described, of which 17 @entity1 were thought to have @entity301 and/or an indication for an emergency hospital admission. GPs mentioned the @entity1 -specific discrepancy, that is differences in behaviour or a different appearance of a @entity1 in comparison to previous consultations, as an important diagnostic criterion. Known risk factors for @entity301 and @entity221 also influenced the GPs' diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Apart from classical textbook criteria, GPs make use of their prior knowledge of individual @entity1 in a specific way. Discrepancies between previous and actual consultations alert the GPs for serious diseases. At the primary care level, medical practitioners use criteria that differ from secondary or tertiary care.

Different from what the textbooks say: how GPs diagnose XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient', 'person'] @entity221 :: ('MESH:D005334', 'Disease') :: ['past illness behaviour'] @entity662 :: ('MESH:D002637', 'Disease') :: ['chest pain'] @entity301 :: ('MESH:D003327', 'Disease') :: ['CHD', 'coronary heart disease']
@entity301 :: (MESH:D003327,Disease) :: ['coronary heart disease']
