Reply Letters Following Orthodontic Consultations: An Audit of Merseyside General Dental Practitioners' Satisfaction

Authors: Waring, David T.1; Harrison, Jayne E.2

Source: Primary Dental Care, Volume 14, Number 2, April 2007 , pp. 53-58(6)

Publisher: Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)

Free trial available!
Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content

Abstract:

Objectives: To assess the opinions of general dental practitioners (GDPs) working within the National Health Ser vice (NHS) in Merseyside regarding the length, format and appropriateness of consultant orthodontists' letters sent in reply to referral letters.

Main outcome measures: These were GDPs' satisfaction with the length, format and content of the reply letters; GDPs' preferences for the information deemed necessary in such letters; GDPs' awareness of the status of their patients and the actions they were requested to undertake.

Method: After piloting, questionnaires were mailed to 330 participating GDPs between August and October 2004.

Results: Two hundred and fifty-one (76%) questionnaires were returned. With one exception, the length of consultants' letters was thought to be adequate. Of the responding GDPs 82% stated a preference for summaries of the diagnosis and treatment plan to be presented in a list format rather than as free text. Aspects of the treatment plan were thought to be more important than the information about the examination. Following receipt of the reply letter only 71% of GDPs were aware of what was happening to their patients and 75% knew what actions they were to undertake.

Conclusions: This audit provides evidence that GDPs consider that a significant portion of the information in consultants' reply letters is not needed. Relevant information may be poorly communicated.

Keywords: CONSULTANTS' REPLY LETTERS; ORTHODONTICS; AUDIT

Document Type: Case report

DOI: 10.1308/135576107780556789

Affiliations: 1: Consultant Orthodontist, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, UK 2: Consultant Orthodontist, Liverpool University Dental Hospital, UK

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$32.46 plus tax

 

OR

Or sign up for a free trial

Back to top

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content
Page Help Click here for Page Help
Shopping cart
Tools
Sign in






Need to register?
Sign up here
Text size: A | A | A | A