Document Detail


The referral practice of general medical practitioners to the surgical specialties: implications for the future.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8909729     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
With increasing numbers of general medical practitioners (GMPs) becoming purchasers of health care, providers of surgical services need to understand factors influencing GMP referrals. Using an anonymous postal questionnaire, criteria used by 400 randomly selected general medical practitioners to make referral decisions were assessed. Issues regarding the importance of waiting lists, cost, distance and communication were assessed, along with previous training and fundholding status. The findings of this study reveal that waiting list times for consultation and treatment, along with communication, are the most important criteria influencing referral. Cost, travel and literature from each specialty were the least important factors. General medical practitioners are shown, in the majority, to remain unaware of the range of conditions managed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. A series of strategies are outlined, which might be used to broaden the referral base for maxillofacial surgery. The need for active education of practitioners is emphasised and the possible effects of regionalisation of the service is discussed.
Authors:
P J McArdle; M Whitnall
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery     Volume:  34     ISSN:  0266-4356     ISO Abbreviation:  Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg     Publication Date:  1996 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1997-02-05     Completed Date:  1997-02-05     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8405235     Medline TA:  Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg     Country:  SCOTLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  394-9     Citation Subset:  D; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopaedics, Weston General Hospital, UK.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Attitude of Health Personnel
Dentist's Practice Patterns / statistics & numerical data*
England
General Practice, Dental*
Health Care Costs
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Planning
Health Services Accessibility
Health Services Research
Humans
Questionnaires
Referral and Consultation / statistics & numerical data*
Surgery, Oral / utilization*
Waiting Lists
Wales
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1998 Feb;36(1):75-6   [PMID:  9578264 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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