Table 3.
Clinical pathway for patients (n = 56) not referred to the diagnostic investigation after first consultation.
| Clinical pathway | n | % |
|---|---|---|
| Acutely admitted | ||
| With new severe symptoms | 6 | 10.7 |
| With aggravation of symptoms | 8 | 14.3 |
| Referred to an outpatient clinic with respiratory physicians | 5 | 8.9 |
| Referred to a diagnosing chest X-ray after | ||
| Initial treatment for a lung infection | 12 | 21.4 |
| Initial treatment for another disease | 4 | 7.1 |
| Initial investigations that did not explain the patient's symptoms | 2 | 3.6 |
| A series of investigations for another tentative diagnosis | 7 | 12.5 |
| Development of symptoms of pneumonia | 3 | 5.4 |
| Returning with new symptoms after no follow up on initial symptoms | 5 | 8.9 |
| A chest X-ray that shows pneumonia | 1 | 1.8 |
| Referred to a bone scintigraphy | 1 | 1.8 |
| Repeating acute admissions | 1 | 1.8 |
| Missing information | 1 | 1.8 |
| Total | 56 | 100.0 |