title: Physiatrist referral preferences for postacute stroke rehabilitation.
abstract: This study was intended to determine if there is variation among physiatrists in referral preferences for postacute rehabilitation for stroke patients based on physician demographic characteristics or geography.A cross-sectional survey study was developed with 5 fictional case vignettes that included information about medical, social, and functional domains. Eighty-six physiatrist residents, fellows, and attendings were asked to select the most appropriate postacute rehabilitation setting and also to rank, by importance, 15 factors influencing the referral decision. Chi-square bivariate analysis was used to analyze the data.Eighty-six surveys were collected over a 3-day period. Bivariate analysis (using chi-square) showed no statistically significant relationship between any of the demographic variables and poststroke rehabilitation preference for any of the cases. The prognosis for functional outcome and quality of postacute facility had the highest mean influence ratings (8.63 and 8.31, respectively), whereas location of postacute facility and insurance had the lowest mean influence ratings (5.74 and 5.76, respectively).Physiatrists' referral preferences did not vary with any identified practitioner variables or geographic region; referral preferences only varied significantly by case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cormier
authors.forename: Megan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Frantz
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rand
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072157:Physiatrists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires