Table 7 Explanation of the factors within the theme “GP factors”
Factors | Definition | Quote |
|---|---|---|
Knowledge treatment options | The GP was not always familiar with the different options for referring, the possibilities within a treatment or which patients were accepted in a certain clinic. | “Okay, the psychosomatic therapist and psychomotor therapist, I thought it was kind of the same.” (GP7). |
Professional opinion | The opinion of a GP about the treatment or the healthcare provider of a clinic. | “No, you don’t have that many exercise therapists in our area who do that. We had one in the village, but I didn’t think he was good.” (GP7). |
Competence | The ability to understand the patient and the complaint were influencing the referral. The competence of the GP to diagnose or treat the patient influenced the referral. | “Yes, looking at fibromyalgia, I can officially make that diagnosis myself according to the guidelines. But it is such a loaded diagnosis that I often choose to refer them anyway, so that I actually do a second opinion of myself.” (GP3). |
Expected recovery period | When a patient was presenting their complaints to the GP, an estimation was made of the time the complaint would precede. | “...if it is something for a shorter project, if I estimate we can tackle the complaint a bit faster and in a more active way.” (GP4). |
Experience | The experience of the GP with the patient and the complaint. The GP did refer to his experience in the working field as a criterium for referring patients. | “…based on my experience, intuition and offer.” (GP6). |
Advice therapist or doctor | The GP or patient could have received an advice for a referral from a specialist, therapist or company doctor. This advice did not always result in a referral | “Sometimes people come up with the story that they need a referral from the company doctor for an MRI or something.” (GP2). |