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Table 2 Ordered logistic multilevel model of rates of referral letters sent by GPs in 34 countries

From: Communication between general practitioners and medical specialists in the referral process: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries

Ni = 34

Nj = 6580

Odds Ratioa (CI)

p

GP level

 Number of face-to face visits in a normal working day

1.006

(1.001, 1.011)

0.009

 Number of telephone calls in a normal working days

0.998

(0.990, 1.006)

0.499

 Number of working hours per week

1.003

(0.997, 1.010)

0.297

 Job satisfaction

1.22

(1.08, 1.39)

0.002

Availability of support staff

(ref. = no secretary and no nurse)

 presence of a secretary or a nurse

1.33

(1.05, 1.70)

0.019

 presence of both a secretary and a nurse

1.37

(1.05, 1.79)

0.020

Use of pc to send referral letters

1.78

(1.53, 2.09)

< 0.001

Interactions between GPs and specialists

1.45

(1.28, 1.63)

< 0.001

Country level

 Gatekeeping system in place

2.80

(1.01, 7.75)

0.048

 Variance Country level (SE)

2.22

(0.56)

 

 Percentage of reduction of variance

(Country level)b

7%

  

 Intraclass correlation (ICC)c

40%

  
  1. a adjusted also for age and gender of GPs, practice location, and employment status of GPs
  2. b this percentage was calculated by using the variance at country level of the initial model (variance initial model =2.41, SE = 0.60)
  3. c the ICC of the initial model is 42%
  4. Ni = number of countries
  5. Nj = number of GPs
  6. SE = standard error
  7. CI = 95% confidence interval