Izlaganje sa skupa
RE-AUDIT OF THE CONTENTS OF GP REFERRAL LETTERS TO GENERAL ADULT COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRISTS
Catherine Odelola
; East London NHS Foundation Trust, Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Wellbeing services, London, UK
Farid Jabbar
; East London NHS Foundation Trust, Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Wellbeing services, London, UK
Sažetak
Background: The quality of information provided by referring general practitioners to secondary care mental health services
are crucial elements in the effective management of patients. In order to establish effective communication, both primary and
secondary care health professionals should contribute to planning and organising this process taking into account their different
opinions and views.
Methods: Anonymous questionnaire was designed to collect information on items that GPs and psychiatrist rated as most
important items in GP referral letters to psychiatrists. The questionnaires were sent out electronically. Each item was scored using a rating scale where 0 was least important and 10 was most important. Items that scored 8 and above were agreed by all as the most important items. 76 GP letters were audited using a devised checklist of the identified most important items. Data was collected and analysed using a devised data collection tool. A re-audit was done 6months later.
Results: A response rate of 70% was obtained for both psychiatrists and GPs. Reasons for referral were described in almost all
GP referral letters (95%). Only 24% referral letters had details about current physical health which improved to 59%. Concerns
about risk were described in only 47% of letters and treatment provided by GP in 50% of letters. These improved in 79% and 71% of letters respectively in the re-audit.
Discussion: The involvement of professionals in devising a standardised approach for referral letters has improved
communication in this re-audit between GPs and Psychiatrists. This is evident in the improvement in key aspects of the referral
letters: past medical history, past psychiatric history, current physical health, treatment provided by GP.
Conclusion: Efficient communication between GPs and psychiatrists improves the quality of health care for patients.
Ključne riječi
communication; GPs; psychiatrists
Hrčak ID:
263950
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.6.2017.
Posjeta: 258 *