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Table 2 Referrals at opioid encounters and referrals linked to ‘opioid problem’ 2012–2016

From: Opioid prescribing in general practice: an Australian cross-sectional survey

Referral

N

(referrals at opioid encounters)

Percentage

of ‘opioid encounter’ referrals

N

(referrals for ‘opioid problem’)

Percentage

of ‘opioid problem’ referrals

Most frequent referrals (> = 1% of referrals) for opioid problem

 Physiotherapy

596

18.1

531

26.8

 Orthopaedic surgeon

376

11.4

315

15.9

 Pain specialist/clinic

137

4.2

134

6.8

 Neurosurgeon

122

3.7

112

5.7

 Surgeon

136

4.1

72

3.6

 Podiatrist/chiropodist

106

3.2

30

1.5

 Psychologist

99

3.0

16

0.8

 Dentist

98

3.0

80

4.0

 Referral (not specified)

85

2.6

51

2.6

 Rheumatologist

79

2.4

65

3.3

 Clinic/centre

59

1.8

25

1.3

 Psychiatrist/Psychiatry clinic

51

1.6

7

0.4

 Hospital—referral

49

1.5

30

1.5

 Neurologist

48

1.5

27

1.4

 Hospital—admission

42

1.3

37

1.9

 Emergency Department

45

1.4

29

1.5

 Oncologist

34

1.0

22

1.1

 Palliative care

27

0.8

25

1.3

 Chiropractor

24

0.7

22

1.1

 Referral—specialist

22

0.7

19

1.0

Least frequent referrals (each < 1% of referrals) for opioid problem

 Referral – Drug & Alcohol

12

0.4

8

0.4

 Mental Health—nurse/worker/team

14

0.4

2

0.1

 Least frequent referrals—alla

354

17.9

693

21.0

  1. aLeast frequent referrals: 90 other services and specialities, each accounting for < 1% of referrals, including: Aboriginal health worker, Acupuncture, Aged care assessment, Allergist, Allied health, Antenatal clinic, Audiologist, Audiometry, Breast clinic, Cardiothoracic surgeon,Centrelink,Chemotherapy, Colonoscopy Colorectal surgeon, Community health, Counselling, Diabetes clinic, Diabetes education, Diagnostic – neuro, Diagnostic – Resp, Drug & alcohol, Electrocardiogram, Electroencephalogram, Electromyogram, Endocrinologist, Endoscopy, Exercise physiologist, Family planning, Fertility clinic, Gastroscopy, General practitioner, Geneticist, Geriatrician, Haematologist, Hepatologist, Holter monitor, Home nursing, Home support services, Hospice, Hydrotherapy, Immunologist, Infection specialist, IVF clinic, Masseur, Mental health nurse, Mental health team, Mental health worker, Midwifery services, Monitoring-BP, Mutual support group, Nephrologist, Nerve conduction studies, Nurse, Nursing home, O&G, Occupational therapy, OH&S, OPD, Optometrist, Orthodontist, Orthotist, Osteopath, Paediatrician, Palliative care, Patient support group, Personal trainer, Pharmacist, Physician, Plastic surgeon, Psych clinic, Psychiatrist, Radiation oncologist, Radiologist, Radiotherapy, Rehabilitation, Respiratory physician, Respite care, Sleep clinic, Social worker, Specialist, Speech therapist, Spirometry, Sports medicine practitioner, Stress test, Test-hearing, Vascular surgeon, Vasectomy