Requesting physicians' experiences regarding infectious disease consultations.

Little is known about how non-infectious disease physicians perceive the value of infectious disease consultations. Prior research has shown that ID specialists handle many hospital consultations, but the perspectives of requesting physicians remain unclear. Established knowledge includes the high volume of ID consultations, but uncertainty remains about why physicians request them and how satisfied they are with the outcomes. This gap motivated a survey to explore the motivations and satisfaction levels of requesting physicians. No prior work had resolved the specific reasons behind consultation requests or their frequency. This study aimed to address these unknowns by examining physician experiences directly. The hospital setting is a key environment for such consultations, yet the role of requesting physicians in shaping their use is underexplored. Understanding these perspectives may help improve consultation practices. Physician satisfaction is a critical but underreported aspect of hospital care.

This study aimed to describe how physicians who request infectious disease consultations perceive their value and use. The focus was on identifying the reasons for consultation requests and measuring physician satisfaction. The study also sought to assess the frequency of consultation use and adherence to recommendations. By analyzing these factors, the researchers hoped to better understand the role of ID consultations in hospital care. The motivation was to clarify how requesting physicians experience and utilize these consultations. No prior work had systematically explored physician satisfaction in this context. The study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by collecting direct feedback from requesting physicians. The goal was to provide insights into consultation practices from the perspective of the requesting side.

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey at a university-affiliated hospital in France in 2009. All physicians at the hospital were eligible to participate, totaling 530 individuals. Participants received a self-administered questionnaire to complete. The survey focused on reasons for requesting ID consultations and physician opinions about their use. Secondary outcomes included the frequency of consultation requests and adherence to recommendations. The researchers collected data through voluntary responses. The main outcomes were satisfaction levels and perceived benefits of consultations. The study design allowed for a broad assessment of physician experiences and behaviors.

A total of 237 physicians participated in the survey, representing a 44.7% response rate. Of these, 187 (79%) had requested an ID consultation in the past year. Ninety-three percent of these physicians reported being satisfied with the consultation services they received. The primary reason for requesting consultations was the need for therapeutic advice, reported by 93% of respondents. Other common reasons included improving care quality (73%) and rapid access (61%). Senior physicians requested consultations several times a month in 52% of cases, while residents did so in 73% of cases. Self-reported adherence to diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations was 83% and 79%, respectively. Physicians expressed high satisfaction with the consultations they requested to improve patient care and decision-making.

The study found that physicians who request ID consultations are generally satisfied with the services they receive. The main motivations for requesting consultations include obtaining therapeutic advice, improving care quality, and ensuring timely access. Senior physicians and residents both use these consultations frequently, though residents report higher usage rates. Physicians reported high adherence to diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations provided during consultations. These findings suggest that ID consultations are valued for their role in supporting medical decision-making and patient care. The authors propose that these consultations are important for enhancing clinical outcomes. The study highlights the need for continued evaluation of consultation practices from the requesting physician's perspective. No essential role was assigned to any single factor, but the overall value of consultations was clearly stated.