ArticleBMC family practice2020
Communication between general practitioners and medical specialists in the referral process: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries.
Article in BMC family practice, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
32 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 59 citations in OpenAlex.
- A Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of Decision Support Systems for Healthcare Referral Strategies.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Investigating Learning Effects Through the Implementation of Teledermatology Consultations Among General Practitioners in Germany: Mixed Methods Process Evaluation.JMIR medical education · 2025Trial
- Exploring primary care physician feedback following an integrative oncology consultation.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023Trial
- PROTOCOL: How Do Primary Care Providers Seek Advice Regarding Paediatric Care? Protocol for a Mixed Methods Systematic Review.Campbell systematic reviews · 2026Review
- Hospital triage of general practice referrals: exploring the role of triage in rejected referrals.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Optimizing Heart Failure-Specific Disease Management Programs and Patient Care in Saudi Arabia: A Saudi Heart Association Position Statement.Journal of the Saudi Heart Association · 2026Article
- Saudi Heart Association Scientific Statement on Cardiovascular-Kidney-Liver-Metabolic (CKLM) Syndrome.Journal of the Saudi Heart Association · 2026Article
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- Improving frequency and content of referral correspondence between general practitioners and psychiatrists: a cross-sectional descriptive study.Primary health care research & development · 2025Observational
- Exploring General Practitioner Work in Upper Austria: A Pilot Retrospective Observational Study Across Thirty Practices.Zdravstveno varstvo · 2025Article
- Exploring the Italian Population's attitudes toward health data sharing for healthcare purpose and scientific research: a cross-sectional study.Journal of public health (Oxford, England) · 2025Article
- Improving musculoskeletal care with AI enhanced triage through data driven screening of referral letters.NPJ digital medicine · 2025Article
- Examining South Tyrol's Experience: Digital Health Adoption and Workforce Issues in Implementing Italy's Primary Care Reform Under Ministerial Decree No. 77/2022.Epidemiologia (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- How primary and tertiary care services collaborate in urgent care delivery: an evaluation of general practice advice lines.BMC primary care · 2024Article
- Impact of Breast Cancer on Cardiometabolic Health in Spanish Women ≥50 Years with Pre-Existing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.Cancers · 2024Article
- Factors Influencing Referral for Bariatric Surgery by Primary Care Physicians in Northern Israel.Obesity surgery · 2024Article
- Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices about Electronic Personal Health Records: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Region of Northern Italy.Journal of medical systems · 2024Article
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Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe communication of relevant patient information between general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists is important in order to avoid fragmentation of care thus achieving a higher quality of care and ensuring physicians' and patients' satisfaction. However, this communication is often not carried out properly. The objective of this study is to assess whether communication between GPs and medical specialists in the referral process is associated with the organisation of primary care within a country, the characteristics of the GPs, and the characteristics of the primary care practices themselves.
methodsAn analysis of a cross-sectional survey among GPs in 34 countries was conducted. The odds ratios of the features that were expected to relate to higher rates of referral letters sent and communications fed back to GPs were calculated using ordered logistic multilevel models.
resultsA total of 7183 GPs from 34 countries were surveyed. Variations between countries in referral letters sent and feedback communication received did occur. Little of the variance between countries could be explained. GPs stated that they send more referral letters, and receive more feedback communications from medical specialists, in countries where they act as gatekeepers, and when, in general, they interact more with specialists. GPs reported higher use of referral letters when they had a secretary and/or a nurse in their practice, used health information technologies, and had greater job satisfaction.
conclusionsThere are large differences in communication between GPs and medical specialists. These differences can partly be explained by characteristics of the country, the GP and the primary care practice. Further studies should also take the organisation of secondary care into account.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.