[The patients' and referring physicians' evaluation of the benefit of examination by a specialist].

60 patients and their referring general practitioners were asked to evaluate the benefit of examination by a rheumatologist in an out-patient clinic. A large percentage of the patients (73%) and of the GPs (89%) were satisfied with the outcome of the examination, even though only 29% of the patients and 37% of the GPs thought that the advice given by the specialist had helped. A majority (60%) of the patients would have liked to have received more information from the specialist, about the diagnosis, and 49% patients claimed that they had not been given any advice on treatment. The results of this study will lead to a change in how we inform patients about diagnosis and treatment in our out-patient clinic.