L Y So1. 1. Department of Paediatrics, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the patterns of referral to a paediatric specialist out-patient clinic. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS: The 1985 referral letters of patients who were referred to the paediatric specialist clinic during 1998 were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Common referral diagnoses according to sources of referral. RESULTS: The common sources of referral were maternal and child health centres (34.7%), accident and emergency departments (26.9%), the Student Health Service (12.9%), private practitioners (10.5%), and general out-patient clinics (9.8%). The common referral diagnoses from maternal and child health centres (n=689) were growth problems (37. 7%), heart murmurs (16.8%), and neonatal jaundice (10.9%). Asthma or suspected asthma constituted the majority of referrals from accident and emergency departments (227/533; 42.6%). Deviations in growth (41. 4%), problems regarding puberty (13.7%), apparent heart problems (13. 3%), and nocturnal enuresis (11.7%) were the common referral diagnoses from the Student Health Service (n=256). CONCLUSIONS: Studying referral patterns from various sources is helpful in organising medical services and identifying training needs.
OBJECTIVE: To study the patterns of referral to a paediatric specialist out-patient clinic. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS: The 1985 referral letters of patients who were referred to the paediatric specialist clinic during 1998 were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Common referral diagnoses according to sources of referral. RESULTS: The common sources of referral were maternal and child health centres (34.7%), accident and emergency departments (26.9%), the Student Health Service (12.9%), private practitioners (10.5%), and general out-patient clinics (9.8%). The common referral diagnoses from maternal and child health centres (n=689) were growth problems (37. 7%), heart murmurs (16.8%), and neonatal jaundice (10.9%). Asthma or suspected asthma constituted the majority of referrals from accident and emergency departments (227/533; 42.6%). Deviations in growth (41. 4%), problems regarding puberty (13.7%), apparent heart problems (13. 3%), and nocturnal enuresis (11.7%) were the common referral diagnoses from the Student Health Service (n=256). CONCLUSIONS: Studying referral patterns from various sources is helpful in organising medical services and identifying training needs.