title: The effect of orthodontic referral guidelines: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of referral guidelines for the referral of orthodontic patients to consultant and specialist practitioner orthodontists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single centre randomised controlled trial with random allocation of referral guidelines for orthodontic treatment to general dental practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital orthodontic departments and specialist orthodontic practices in Manchester and Stockport.
  
  
  METHODS
  General dental practitioners and the patients they referred for orthodontic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Appropriateness of referral, defined as whether the patient was accepted for orthodontic treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The referral guidelines did not reduce the number of inappropriate referrals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Referral guidelines for orthodontic referrals did not influence the behaviour of the general dental practitioners. More research into the optimum methods of dissemination and implementation of referral guidelines for use in the general dental service is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Medicine and Surgery, University of Manchester Dental Hospital.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conboy
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bagley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bogues
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lentin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parr
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004739:England; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000628:therapy; D009970:Orthodontics; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018401:Sample Size