[How was the referral sheet interpreted? Questionnaire on priority assessment of patients referred to orthopedic surgeons showed great differences between reviewers].
A questionnaire containing 15 simulated referrals for orthopedic specialist treatment was distributed to physicians in charge of determining priority. They were asked to consider each referral in a normal way and grade them in order of priority. The results overall showed great divergence; units with longer waiting lists assigned the patients lower priority than did units with short waiting lists. There is a pressing need for national guidelines in order to improve the referral sheet as an instrument of communication.
Löfvendahl
Sofia
S
Ortopediska kliniken, Vrinnevisjukhuset, Norrköping. sol@lf.se
Hellberg
Staffan
S
Hanning
Marianne
M
D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006292:Health Priorities; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000592:standards; D018579:Patient Selection; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014850:Waiting Lists
Hur tolkades remissen? Enkät om prioritering av patienter remitterade till ortopedspecialist visade stora skillnader remissgranskare emellan.