General practitioners' reflections on referring: an asymmetric or non-dialogical process?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Primary Care Medicine
• Medical Communication

Background:

• The referral process is crucial for seamless patient care between general practice and specialist services.
• Understanding general practitioners' (GPs) perspectives on referrals is vital for optimizing interprofessional collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe general practitioners' (GPs) reflections and attitudes towards the referral process.
• To explore GPs' views on cooperation with hospital specialists.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing semi-structured focus-group interviews with 31 GPs (17 female, 14 male).
• Data analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological method, as modified by Malterud.
• Interviews were conducted between November 2010 and February 2011.

Main Results:

• GPs expressed a strong desire for enhanced dialogue with hospital specialists.
• The referral process was frequently perceived as asymmetric and occasionally humiliating.
• While GPs recognized the utility of referral templates, they were skeptical of mandatory fixed formats.

Conclusions:

• The referral process significantly impacts patient care continuity between primary and specialist care.
• GPs often experience the referral process as asymmetric and demeaning.
• Balancing the need for mutual dialogue with the practical benefits of templates is essential for ensuring referral quality.