OBJECTIVES: To determine the reasons and characteristics of referrals from Primary to Specialised Care in the Health Area of Toledo (Spain). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing a sample of the referrals to specialists made by 26 general practitioners from eight Teaching Health Centres during February 2011. All of them completed a questionnaire which recorded patient data, and reason and characteristics of the referral. RESULTS: A total of 332 referrals were recorded; the mean age of the patients was 51.3 years (SD; 17.9); 60.1% females; 30.7% pensioners; 54.8% had a chronic disease; 85.8% were from an urban environment. The most consulted specialists were: Traumatology (63), Gynaecology (53), and Ophthalmology (41). More than three-quarters (78.9%) were by the normal route, and 47.4% were first consultations. Around 12.7% were scheduled reviews, with a majority (51.4%) by a hospital specialist. More than two thirds (69.8%, 95% CI; 64.5-74.7%) required follow-up or treatment by the specialist. More than half (57.7%, 95% CI; 52.3-63.1%) required special diagnostic tests, and in 29.8% (95% CI; 25.0-35.1%) there was no clear diagnosis. There was a history of a repeated consultation for the same symptomatology in 28.9% of the referrals. Around 38.4% (95% CI; 33.0-43.7%) were requested specifically by the family or patient. Around 5.4% had a poor relationship with the patient. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of referrals are made by the normal route, and to surgical specialities. The need for hospital specialist follow-up and/or treatment, or the impossibility to request specific tests from Primary Care were the main reasons for requesting care from a second health care level. There were a high percentage of referrals requested by the family/patient.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the reasons and characteristics of referrals from Primary to Specialised Care in the Health Area of Toledo (Spain). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing a sample of the referrals to specialists made by 26 general practitioners from eight Teaching Health Centres during February 2011. All of them completed a questionnaire which recorded patient data, and reason and characteristics of the referral. RESULTS: A total of 332 referrals were recorded; the mean age of the patients was 51.3 years (SD; 17.9); 60.1% females; 30.7% pensioners; 54.8% had a chronic disease; 85.8% were from an urban environment. The most consulted specialists were: Traumatology (63), Gynaecology (53), and Ophthalmology (41). More than three-quarters (78.9%) were by the normal route, and 47.4% were first consultations. Around 12.7% were scheduled reviews, with a majority (51.4%) by a hospital specialist. More than two thirds (69.8%, 95% CI; 64.5-74.7%) required follow-up or treatment by the specialist. More than half (57.7%, 95% CI; 52.3-63.1%) required special diagnostic tests, and in 29.8% (95% CI; 25.0-35.1%) there was no clear diagnosis. There was a history of a repeated consultation for the same symptomatology in 28.9% of the referrals. Around 38.4% (95% CI; 33.0-43.7%) were requested specifically by the family or patient. Around 5.4% had a poor relationship with the patient. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of referrals are made by the normal route, and to surgical specialities. The need for hospital specialist follow-up and/or treatment, or the impossibility to request specific tests from Primary Care were the main reasons for requesting care from a second health care level. There were a high percentage of referrals requested by the family/patient.
Authors: Juan Diego Ramos-Pichardo; Ángela María Ortega-Galán; María Teresa Iglesias-López; Ana Abreu-Sánchez; Elia Fernández-Martínez Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-05 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: P Zamora Navas; E Montañez Heredia; J Nieto Orellana; C Gónzalez García; L Cano Obando; L Cárdenas Rebollo; Y Abderrachid Al Chaid; M Saadouli Arco; I Rodríguez Delourme; M Díez Izquierdo; L F Prado Martín de Lucía; J Durán Garrido; M Fernández Hijano; R Víquez da Silva; C Olofsson Suárez-Bárcena; C Jiménez Garrido; J J García Vera; J Pérez Cardeña; S Irízar Jiménez; J L Esteban Del Castillo; M García Píriz; J M Gómez Palomo; F J A Fernández Martín; P Huertas Segador; J Santos de la Fuente; J Serrano Fernández; F Estades Rubio; A Fernández de Rota; J M García Herrera; A Leiva Gea; M Lombardo Torre; J Mariscal Lara; B Martín Castilla; V Urbano Labajos; A Sánchez García; V Quirante Sánchez; S Cañada Oya; M Rodríguez Jiménez; B Delgado Rufino; A Queipo de Llano Temboury; M Barón Romero; M D López Hermoso; M Benavente Casajús; T Loring Caffarena; M A Chaparro Villar; F de la Torre Solís Journal: Rev Esp Cir Ortop Traumatol (Engl Ed) Date: 2020-10-14