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Table 3 Ten most common reasons for visit, classified into categories using The Reason for Visit Classification

From: Self-referrals in the emergency department: reasons why patients attend the emergency department without consulting a general practitioner first—a questionnaire study

Code

Reason for visit category

Number

Percentage

J505-J575

Injury, type unspecified

for example ‘foot bumped’, ‘hurt my hand’

356

23.2

J205-J230

Injury, lacerations, and cuts

for example ‘cut in finger’

253

16.5

S900-S999

Symptoms referable to the musculoskeletal system, excluding injuries

for example ‘low back pain’, ‘stiffness knee’

195

12.7

J800-J899

Injury, not otherwise specified

for example ‘motor vehicle accident’, ‘fell from stair cases’

132

8.6

S001-S099

General symptoms

for example ‘malaise’, ‘fainting’

113

7.4

S500-S639

Symptoms referable to the digestive system

for example ‘abdominal pain’, ‘nausea’

98

6.4

J001-J050

Injury, fractures, and dislocations

for example ‘fracture wrist’, ‘dislocated shoulder’

89

5.8

J105-J130

Injury, sprains, and strains

for example ‘sprained ankle’, ‘twisted knee’

49

3.2

S400-S499

Symptoms referable to the respiratory system

for example ‘shortness of breath’, ‘pain throat’

40

2.6

S300-S399

Symptoms referable to the eyes and ears

for example ‘red eye’, ‘pain ear’

33

2.1