title: [Consultations in ophthalmological practice. A multi-practice study of referrals to private ophthalmologists in Denmark].
abstract: In Denmark the GPs act as gatekeepers for secondary health care services except for ophthalmologists and ear-nose-throat specialists. The aim of this study was to describe consultations and referral patterns to ophthalmologists in private practice in Denmark. Forty-four out of 143 practising ophthalmologists agreed to fill out a short questionnaire on a random sample of their patients. They recorded 1844 consultations. Forty percent of contacts were appointments arranged by the ophthalmologist, 35% were self-referred, 13% were referred by their GP and 12% by others. Cataract, glaucoma and refraction anomalies accounted for 51% of all diagnoses. The distribution of reasons for encounter and diagnoses among self-referred patients and patients referred by their GP does not argue in favour of a change from the present system with free self-referral to a system with gatekeeping by GPs.
authors.affiliation: Forskingsenheden for Almen Medicin, Arhus.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olesen
mesh_terms: D003718:Denmark; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
vernacular_title: Patientkontakter til øjenlaegepraksis. En multipraksisunderøgelse af kontakter til privat øjenloegepraksis i Danmark.