Referral Patterns for People With Musculoskeletal Complaints in General Practice: An Analysis From an Australian...

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal health
• General practice
• Healthcare referral pathways

Background:

• Musculoskeletal complaints are a common reason for primary care visits.
• Referral patterns by general practitioners (GPs) significantly influence patient management and healthcare costs.
• Understanding these patterns is crucial for optimizing care delivery in Australia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze referral patterns for patients with musculoskeletal complaints presenting to Australian general practitioners (GPs).
• To investigate the types of referrals made, timing, and trends over a five-year period.
• To identify factors influencing referral variations.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal analysis of the Population Level Analysis Reporting (POLAR) database (2014–2018).
• Inclusion of 133,279 patients with low back, neck, shoulder, or knee complaints and 4,538 GPs.
• Examination of referrals to allied health, medical, and surgical specialists.

Main Results:

• 33% of patients received referrals, and 67% of GPs made at least one referral.
• Most referrals were to allied health (19%), followed by surgeons (14%).
• Referrals varied by body region, gender, socioeconomic status, and location; allied health referrals increased annually (2.2%), while surgical referrals decreased (1.9%).

Conclusions:

• One-third of patients with musculoskeletal issues receive referrals from GPs.
• Referral patterns are influenced by complaint site and patient demographics.
• Further research into referral decision-making can explain practice variations and improve care coordination.