The lack of a standardized vocabulary for recording CC complicates the collection, aggregation, and analysis of CC for any purpose, but especially for real-time surveillance of patterns of illness and injury. The need for a controlled CC vocabulary has been articulated by national groups and a plan proposed for developing such a vocabulary. To date there has been no comparison of published CC lists. This study lays the groundwork for a controlled ED CC vocabulary by comparing selected terms from several published ED CC lists.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to compare the most common chief complaints (CC) from a national emergency department (ED) survey, with four published CC lists in order to identify issues relevant to the creation of a controlled ED CC vocabulary.