Understanding the Process of Medical Referral: Part 1: Critique of the literature.

In a critique of the existing literature, the author found that most studies simply calculate referral rates and count letters between referring physicians and specialists. Longitudinal studies that consider all participants' views and place referral in a broader context could reveal more about this complex process. This article is the first of a six-part series reporting on a longitudinal study of 50 referrals in Ontario and Manitoba.