The interrater variation of ED abdominal examination findings in patients with acute abdominal pain.

Objective: The physical examination of the abdomen is crucial to emergency department (ED) management of patients with abdominal pain. We sought to determine the interrater variation between attending and resident physicians in detecting abdominal exam findings.

Methods: Research enrollers surveyed attending and resident physicians on abdominal exam findings in the ED in patients with abdominal pain.