Family Medicine Residents' Perception of Attitude Towards Request for Referral in Out-patient

Yoon, Hong Joo; Jin, Seong Hee; Cheong, Yoo Seock; Yoo, Sun Mi; Park, Eal Whan

Abstract

BACGROUND: After amendment of the national health insurance law to enforce and reform primary health care, the number of family medicine out-patients was increased. Some patients requested referral. Therefore, this study was made to reveal family medicine residents'perception of attitude towards request for referral.
METHODS
The self-administered questionnaires were collected by post mailing (July 1 to July 30, 2002) and by e-mailing (July 25 to August 10, 2002). The questionnaire contained the followings: general characteristics, issues of referral request, influence of referral request in training, and influence in private family clinics.
RESULTS
The overall response rate was 22.2% (93/418). Patients need was the most common cause of referral (62.0%). Among the total, 46.2% of respondents gave answers that increasing number of patients at the family medicine out-patient clinic was beneficial in increasing their experience. Also, 55% of respondents replied that the present state of family medicine out-patient system influenced lowering of motivation in training. Overall, 63.4% of respondents replied that the present state of family medicine out-patient system led a trend of distrust to private family clinics.
CONCLUSION
Patients request was the most common cause of referral in family medicine out-patient clinic. The present state of referral system in family medicine out-patient clinic influenced lowering of motivation in training and a trend of distrust to private family clinics.