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General dental practitioner referral patterns for minor oral surgery
Summary
General dental practitioners refer patients for minor oral surgery when specialist treatment is needed. Less experienced dentists more often refer patients anticipating general anesthesia, while inappropriate National Health Service (NHS) fees also drive referrals.
Area of Science:
- Oral Surgery
- Dental Public Health
Background:
- Referral patterns for minor oral surgery (MOS) by general dental practitioners (GDPs) impact healthcare resource allocation.
- Understanding factors influencing these referrals is crucial for optimizing patient care and service delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency and reasons for hospital referrals of medically fit patients for MOS by GDPs in the Grampian region.
- To explore the relationship between referral patterns, practitioner experience, and previous hospital employment.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was distributed to all GDPs in the Grampian region.
- Response rate of 91.8% (n=135) achieved.
- Data analyzed to compare referral frequency with practitioner experience and hospital employment history.
Main Results:
- GDPs refer when specialist treatment is perceived as necessary.
- Less experienced practitioners were more inclined to refer due to the perceived need for general anesthesia.
- Patient requests and avoiding National Health Service (NHS) charges were rare referral reasons.
- Inappropriate NHS fees for MOS treatment influenced one-third of practitioners' referrals.
Conclusions:
- Referral decisions for MOS are primarily based on perceived treatment complexity and practitioner experience.
- The cost of NHS treatment, specifically inappropriate fees, represents a significant factor influencing referral decisions.
- Further investigation into fee structures and training needs for GDPs may reduce unnecessary referrals.