The referral system for specialist dental services at Sefako Makgatho Oral Health Centre: a cross-sectional study
Keywords:
hierarchical, repercussionAbstract
The functioning of various referral systems in service delivery at district level have been described. To examine the functioning of referral system for specialist dental services at Sefako Makgatho Oral Health Centre. The prevalence of self-referrals and emergency patients and reasons for referrals were determined. The pattern of referrals for elective treatment at the clinical units was
described. This was a cross-sectional study A structured closed questionnaire was used to collect data related to demographic characteristics, reasons for referrals to the clinic and whether patients were referred by healthcare workers or self-referred. Patients themselves or with the assistance of the research team completed the questionnaire. Data required for classifying patients into
emergency and non-emergency was gathered from the service register. The classification was made based on the
referral preferences of attending clinicians. A substantial proportion of visitors to the hospital were self-referred (71.3%), emergency patients (69.7%). Among referred patients, the most common reason for referrals was for specialist oral and maxillofacial surgical services. The majority (64.7%) of hospital visitors received elective treatment referrals, 48.9% of which were for general dentistry.
The prevalence of self-referrals by emergency patients is extremely high
Downloads
References
Mojaki ME, Basu D, Letskokgohka ME, Govender M. Referral steps in district health system are side-stepped. S Afr Med J. 2011; 101(2):109.
Ncana L. Evaluating the referral system between CEC ILIA MAKHIWANE HOSPITAL ART unit and its feeder sites, (Zone 2, 8 and 13 clinics 2010). [Masters Thesis]. Stellenbosch University, 2010.
Mashishi MM. Assessment of Referrals to a District Hospital Maternity Unit South Africa. [Masters Thesis]. University of the Witwatersrand, 2010.
Visser R, Bhana R, Monticelli F. National Health Care Facilities Baseline Audit, National Summary Report September 2012 Revised February 2013, Health Systems Trust. Available: www.doh.gov.za/docs/reports/2013/Healthcare.pdf [Accessed 23/07/2018].
Bhayat A, Cleaton-Jones P. Dental clinic attendance in Soweto, South Africa, before and after the introduction of free primary dental health services. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2003; 31(2): 105-10.
Harkinson BN, Cleaton-Jones PE. Analysis of attendance rates at Soweto dental clinics 1995-2002. S Afr Dent J 2004; 59(4): 147-9.
Lesolang RR, Motloba DP, Lalloo R. Reasons for tooth extraction at the Winterveldt Clinic: 1998-2002. S Afr Dent J 2009; 64:214-8.
Rajcoomar N. Compliance of public dental clinics in the Umgungundlovu district with norms and standards in the Primary Health Care Package for South Africa. [Masters Thesis]. University of the Western Cape, 2016.
Gauteng Department of Health. Oral Health Clinics Tshwane District. Available:http://www.gauteng.gov.za/ Document%20Library/Health/Tshwane%20district%20Clinics.pdf Accessed [23/07/2018]
Naidoo S. Referrals – practitioner, patient & specialist obligations. SADJ 2016; 71(2):82- 4.
Rohde J S, Cousens M. Chopra, V et al. “30 Years After Alma-Ata: Has Primary Care Worked in Countries?” Lancet 2008; 372: 950-61.
Kamau KJ, Osuga BO, Njuguna S. Challenges Facing Implementation Of Referral System For Quality Health Care Services In Kiambu County, Kenya. Health Research Policy and Systems 2017; 4:1
Ministry of Health – Harambee. Frequently Asked Questions (Faqs). Available: https://www. measureevaluation.org/pima/referral-systems/referralfaqs-insert Accessed [23/07/2018]
Hensher M, Price M, Adomakoh S. Referral Hospitals. In: Jamison DT, Breman JG, Measham Ar, et al., editors. Disease control Priorities in Developing countries. 2nd edition. Washington (Dc): World Bank; 2006.
Akande TM. Referrals system in Nigeria: Study of a tertiary health facility. Annals of African Medicine 2004; 3(3):130-3.
Formicola AJ, Myers R, Hasler JF et.al. Evolution of dental school clinics as patient care delivery centres. Journal of Dental education 2006; 72(2) Supplement: 110-7.
Mthethwa SR, Chabikuli NJ. The efficiency of the referral system at Medunsa Oral Health Centre. SADJ 2016; 71(10):448 – 53
Medunsa Oral Health Centre. Diagnostic clinic patient attendance register, 2018
Epi Info [program]. 7.1.0.6 version, 2012.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON. Sampling & How to Use a Random Number Table. Available: http://www.indiana.edu/ educy520/sec6342/week_04/random_ num_table.pdf Accessed [05 /07/2018]
Singh AS, Mohamed A, Bouckaert MM. A clinical evaluation of dry sockets at the Medunsa Oral Health Centre. South African Dental Journal 2008; 63(9):490-3.
Pillay I, Mahomed OH. Prevalence and determinants of self-referrals to a District-Regional Hospital in KwaZulu
Natal, South Africa: a cross sectional study. Pan Afr Med J. 2019; 33:4.
Rajman, A, Mahomed O. Prevalence and determinants of self-directed referrals amongst patients at hospitals in
eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal 2015. South African Family Practice 2019; 61(2), 52.
Masango- Makgobela, Agnes, Indiran Govender, & John V. Ndimande. Reasons patients leave their nearest
healthcare service to attend Karen Park Clinic, Pretoria North. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2013;5(1):559
Coulthard P, Koron R, Kazakou I, Macfarlane TV. Patterns and appropriateness of referral from general dental practice
to specialist oral and maxillofacial surgical services. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2000;38(4):320-5
Nazir MA. Factors associated with dental pain related to last dental visit among adult patients. Dental and Medical
Problems. 2018 ;55(1):63-8.
Singh S. Dental caries rates in South Africa: implications for oral health planning. South Afr J Epidemiol Infect 2011; 26(4) (Part II): 259-61.
Bhayat A, Chikte U. Human Resources for Oral Health Care in South Africa: A 2018 Update. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(10):1668.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
.png){kind=spacer}