General practitioners referring patients to specialists in tertiary healthcare: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is a large and unexplained variation in referral rates to specialists by general practitioners, which calls for investigations regarding general practitioners' perceptions and expectations during the referral process. Our objective was to describe the decision-making process underlying referral of patients to specialists by general practitioners working in a university outpatient primary care center.

Methods

Two focus groups were conducted among general practitioners (10 residents and 8 chief residents) working in the Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté) of the University of Lausanne, in Switzerland. Focus group data were analyzed with thematic content analysis. A feedback group of general practitioners validated the results.

Results

P

SUBMITTER: Tzartzas K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6885318 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature