The purpose of this study was both to ascertain the extent to which Pakistanis, compared with Norwegians, consult a doctor and to discover possible differences in the type of diagnosis received by the two groups. 6 867 consultations where the patient was either Pakistani or Norwegian were registered over a period of one year at Stovner Health Centre. The frequency of the consultations differed more between men and women than between Pakistanis and Norwegians. On the whole the Pakistani patients received more symptom diagnoses and fewer diagnoses of illness than the Norwegians did, but here too there was a greater difference between the sexes than between the nationalities - women received most symptom diagnoses. Women practitioners gave symptom diagnoses more often than their male colleagues, did. Our study has shown that differences between the sexes are greater than differences between the races. This may help to break down barriers between us and them.

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Pakistan Norway human middle aged statistics comparative study clinical practice ethnology Physician's Practice Patterns Humans male female patient referral Referral and Consultation female physician Ambulatory Care Facilities outpatient department cultural factor Article diagnosis Physicians, Women adult migration Emigration and Immigration Cultural Characteristics