[Testing of a standard referral form in Sør-Trøndelag]

January 1st 1998 Norwegian health authorities introduced a standard referral form to be used for all referrals to specialists. The form had been developed by a working group in the Norwegian Board of Health. The group also was responsible for testing out the form. One test was performed by use of a medical audit method in Sør-Trøndelag County in September 1997. The evaluation from the specialists who received the referrals was positive with regard to the information needed for appraisal of the referral. The general practitioners who participated had a more varied evaluation; in 90% of the cases the form was evaluated as good or serviceable, but only in 30% of the cases was it considered an improvement. At the closing workshop the participating doctors had many proposals for changes and improvements of the form. The most important conclusion of the pilot study is that efforts to improve communication between doctors must be closely linked to developments in computer software for medical practice.