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- Title
Assessment of the Iraqi primary care referral system: reporting a high self-requested referral rate.
- Authors
Shabila, Nazar P.; Al-Tawil, Namir G.; Wahab, Moayad A.; Al-Hadithi, Tariq S.; Sondorp, Egbert
- Abstract
Objectives: Due to a lack of empirical data on the Iraqi primary care referral system, this study is aimed at assessing patient referral from primary to secondary care. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 336 patients referred from primary to secondary care was conducted in Erbil, Iraq in November 2010. A questionnaire was administered to all patients referred from three randomly selected primary health care centers. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics of referred patients, type and reasons for referral and referral process. Results: Physicians made an average 84 consultations and 5.1 referrals per full practice-day. The referral rate from primary to secondary care was 6.0%; 38.4% of all referrals were self-requested. Lack of specific specialties in the primary health care centers (44.4%) and the need for further management in secondary care (43.0%) were the main reasons for the indicated referrals. The rate of self-requested referral could not be explained by socio-demographic characteristics of the patients. Around 93% of the referred patients went to the referred hospital on the same day of referral. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a near average referral rate at primary care level but with a high rate of self-requested referrals. Referred patients reported relatively easy access to secondary care settings. The findings may be regarded as preliminary data for further research into the referral system in Iraq.
- Subjects
ERBIL (Iraq); IRAQ; PRIMARY care; MEDICAL referrals; PHYSICIAN-patient relations
- Publication
Middle East Journal of Family Medicine, 2012, Vol 10, Issue 3, p4
- ISSN
1448-4196
- Publication type
Article