[The information needs of non-hospital based physicians regarding admissions and transfers]

This study examines the quality criteria which, from the perspective of non-hospital based physicians, are relevant in order to give patients quality-oriented recommendations in the selection of a suitable hospital or specialist.

A primary telephone survey of 300 physicians from 5 specialist groups collected relevance assessments of 59 quality criteria for hospitals, GPs and specialist practices. A descriptive bi- and multivariate analysis was performed using McNemar tests, correlation and regression analysis.

Next to the personal experiences which the physician and his patients made with the hospital or non-hospital based colleague in the past, there is a general interest in vital structural and outcome parameters of hospitals and medical practices. Physicians deem the nature and scope of services offered by the hospitals and medical practices as less relevant. In 12 of the 59 examined quality criteria, the relevance assessments differ depending on whether the physician is dealing with an elective admission to hospital or a referral to a GP or specialist. In the analysis of possible correlations between preferences and factors which might be influencing the physician, gender, age and specialisation were found to have an effect.