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Predictors for referral to physiotherapy from general practice
1Research Unit and Department of General Practice, University of Aarhus, Denmark. ckj@alm.au.dk
Objective:
The aim of the study was to describe the referral rates from general practice to physiotherapists and to investigate possible predictors for referral.
Methods:
Referral rates per 100 patients per year were obtained from the health insurance register of the county of Aarhus. General Practitioner (GP) characteristics were obtained via a questionnaire to all GPs in the county.
Results:
A total of 38 231 referred patients from 260 practices were included. Twice as many women as men were referred. Referral rates varied from 1.6% to 13.2% between practices. Of the explored predictors "practice location", "female GP practices" and "GPs reporting frequent contact with physiotherapist regarding the treatment of individual patients" were statistically significant, but explained little of the variance in referral rates.
Conclusion:
The examined practice and GP characteristics explain little of the substantial variation in referral rates. In view of increasing health care expenses and the need for quality assurance, the large variation in referral rates warrants reflection and further research on indications for and possible benefit from physiotherapy.