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Mohammad Javad Kabir1 
, Alireza Heidari *2 , Hamid Pourasghari3 , Zahra Khatirnamani1 , Sakine Beygom Kazemi1 , Mohammad Reza Honarvar1 , Reza Golpira4
, Alireza Heidari *2 , Hamid Pourasghari3 , Zahra Khatirnamani1 , Sakine Beygom Kazemi1 , Mohammad Reza Honarvar1 , Reza Golpira4
1- Health Management and Social Development Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
2- Health Management and Social Development Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran ,alirezaheidari7@gmail.com
3- School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4- Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- Health Management and Social Development Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran ,
3- School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4- Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (43 Views)
Background: Although Iran’s healthcare network has had many successes in providing healthcare services to the community, it has not had much success in the field of referrals. This study was conducted to determine the reasons why outpatients do not visit specialists and the relationship between these reasons and their demographic characteristics.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of 429 rural patients who were referred by a Family Physician (FP) to a specialist physician but who did not visit the designated specialist was carried out in the cities of Bandar-e-Turkman, Aq-Qala and Aliabad-e-Katoul. The sampling method was stratified random sampling. The data were collected using a two-part self-made questionnaire. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and a linear regression model in SPSS 16 software were used.
Results: Overall, 229 patients (54.7%) were female and 186 patients (43.4%) were in the 30–60 years age group. Of the patients referred to a specialist, 65% visited another physician rather than the one designated, and 35% did not visit a specialist at all. Among the reasons for not visiting specialists, clinic conditions (3.26±0.74), side expenditures (2.51±0.74) and the admission and queuing system (2.45±0.70) had the highest average scores.
Conclusion: Providing patients with suitable guidance at the time of making an appointment, providing patients with more options in choosing an appropriate appointment in non-emergency cases, training specialist physicians to establish appropriate communication, and reducing costs for low-income patients could effectively persuade patients to receive specialized outpatient services within the framework of the electronic Referral system.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of 429 rural patients who were referred by a Family Physician (FP) to a specialist physician but who did not visit the designated specialist was carried out in the cities of Bandar-e-Turkman, Aq-Qala and Aliabad-e-Katoul. The sampling method was stratified random sampling. The data were collected using a two-part self-made questionnaire. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and a linear regression model in SPSS 16 software were used.
Results: Overall, 229 patients (54.7%) were female and 186 patients (43.4%) were in the 30–60 years age group. Of the patients referred to a specialist, 65% visited another physician rather than the one designated, and 35% did not visit a specialist at all. Among the reasons for not visiting specialists, clinic conditions (3.26±0.74), side expenditures (2.51±0.74) and the admission and queuing system (2.45±0.70) had the highest average scores.
Conclusion: Providing patients with suitable guidance at the time of making an appointment, providing patients with more options in choosing an appropriate appointment in non-emergency cases, training specialist physicians to establish appropriate communication, and reducing costs for low-income patients could effectively persuade patients to receive specialized outpatient services within the framework of the electronic Referral system.
Type of Study: Original Article |
Subject:
Health Policy
Received: 2025/09/28 | Accepted: 2026/04/11
Received: 2025/09/28 | Accepted: 2026/04/11
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