Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Understanding patients' awareness of the anatomical placement of their body organs is important for doctor-patient communication. AIM: To measure the correct anatomical placement of body organs by people from Australian and New Zealand general practices METHOD: A questionnaire survey containing drawings of 11 organs placed in different locations within each drawing. RESULTS: Among 1156 participants, there was no difference in the proportion of correct placement of 11 organs between Australian (51.7%) and New Zealand (49.6%) general practices. There was a positive correlation between the proportion of correctly placed organs and the age participants left school (p=0.012) and a negative correlation with the number of GP visits in the previous year (p=0.040). Participants from rural Australia were more likely to correctly place organs than urban participants (p=0.018). The mean proportion of organs correctly placed for doctors was 80.5%, nurses 66.5%, allied health 61.5%, health administrators 50.6% and the remaining consulting patients 51.3%. DISCUSSION: Patients from Australian and New Zealand general practice were poorly aware of the correct placement of organs. Health professionals were moderately better than patients at correct placement.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 239-241 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of Primary Health Care |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2012 |