Reasons for referral from general practice in Finland.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the reasons for referral from general practice in Finland.


METHODS
Survey over one week of all referrals from general practice.


METHODS
Central and northern Finland, comprising 72% of the area of the country and one-third of the population.


METHODS
851 general practitioners (GPs) from public health centres.


METHODS
Referrals by speciality and reasons for referrals by ICD-9 and ICPC codes in terms of characteristics of patients, GPs, and practices.


RESULTS
A higher proportion of male (39%) than female (33%) patients were referred to surgical speciality (p < 0.001). Ten per cent of the patients referred by female GPs were referred to gynaecology departments, compared with 5% of those referred by male GPs (p < 0.001). Otitis media in children and abdominal pain in adults were the commonest reasons for referral of both male and female patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results will be useful in developing the training of GPs with respect to those health problems that most commonly lead to a referral to hospital.
Vehviläinen
A T
AT
University of Kuopio, Department of Community Health and General Practice, Finland.
Kumpusalo
E A
EA
Takala
J K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013038:Specialization; D013043:Specialties, Surgical