Overall | Internal medicine | Neurology | Orthopaedics | Dermatology | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(N = 247) | (N = 56) | (N = 48) | (N = 56) | (N = 87) | |
Duration of complaints in weeks (mean ± SD) | 47.7 ± 52.7 | 40.9 ± 44.2 | 49.9 ± 61.7 | 51.6 ± 53.3 | 47.9 ± 52.5 |
Reasons for referring % (N)a | |||||
To confirm disease | 21.5 (53) | 1.8 (1) | 25.0 (12) | 23.2 (13) | 31.0 (27) |
To exclude disease | 17.4 (43) | 26.8 (15) | 20.8 (10) | 10.7 (6) | 13.8 (12) |
Screening unclear pathology | 43.3 (107) | 60.7 (34) | 37.5 (18) | 42.9 (24) | 35.6 (31) |
Controlling known condition | 5.7 (14) | 3.6 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 5.4 (3) | 10.3 (9) |
Reassurance | 8.1 (20) | 7.1 (4) | 16.7 (8) | 5.4 (3) | 5.7 (5) |
Upon patient request | 9.3 (23) | 1.8 (1) | 10.4 (5) | 10.7 (6) | 12.6 (11) |
Upon medical specialist advice | 0.8 (2) | 3.6 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) |
Other | 6.9 (17) | 3.6 (2) | 4.2 (2) | 14.3 (8) | 5.7 (5) |
Choice GP in hypothetical case PC+ was not available % (N) | |||||
Keep patient in primary care | 11.3 (28) | 16.1 (9) | 10.4 (5) | 8.9 (5) | 10.3 (9) |
Refer to outpatient care | 85.4 (211) | 82.1 (46) | 87.5 (42) | 87.5 (49) | 85.1 (74) |
Refer to other healthcare providerb | 3.3 (8) | 1.8 (1) | 2.1 (1) | 3.6 (2) | 4.6 (4) |