title: Self-reported referral patterns in practices of family/general practitioners, internists, and obstetricians/gynecologists.
abstract: A profile of referrals can help to define the characteristics of a physician's practice. Self-reported referral patterns in the practices of Family/General Practitioners (FP/GP), Internists (IM), and Obstetricians/Gynecologists (OB/GYN) in Maryland were assessed with a questionnaire mailed to an area sample of 1,715 physicians. A 65% response rate was obtained after three mailings (weighted N = 1,487). Self-reported referrals received per month averaged 16% of patients seen (six percent FP/GP, 13% OB/GYN, 23% IM), and were more frequent among self-employed, younger, metropolitan and female physicians who spent less time in patient care. Self-reported referrals made per month averaged ten percent (10% FP/GP), 11% IM, and eight percent OB/GYN), and were higher for physicians in metropolitan areas. The correlation between percentage referrals received and percentage referrals made was r = .19 (r = .03 FP/GP, r = .21 IM, r = .25 OB/GYN). Self-reported practice referral patterns are similar to referrals reported in prior studies, and can be used to consider specialty differences in referral behavior of physicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobal
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Muncie
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: DeForge
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008396:Maryland; D009774:Obstetrics; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*