Impact of an interdisciplinary digital consultation platform on general practitioner referrals for musculoskeletal symptoms: a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of an interdisciplinary, digital consultation platform on the proportion of appropriate referrals from general practitioners (GPs) to an orthopaedic outpatient hospital.

Methods

We performed a stepped wedge, cluster, randomized controlled trial. Sixty GP practices in the catchment area of a large teaching hospital in the Netherlands were randomized. Groups of GP practices entered the trial in four steps at 13-week intervals, at which point they received access to the Prisma platform. The platform allowed them to post questions about anonymized cases to a multidisciplinary group of specialists. During the control condition, GPs did not receive platform access. In both conditions, GPs provided care as usual. The proporti

SUBMITTER: Sanavro SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12449199 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature