BACKGROUND Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) is a subspecialty of psychiatry that provides care to inpatients under non-psychiatric care. Despite evidence of benefits of CLP for inpatients with psychiatric comorbidities, referral rates from hospital doctors remain low. This review aims to understand barriers to CLP inpatient referral as described in the literature. METHODS We searched on ...

BACKGROUND In spite of the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among elderly residents in nursing homes, only a small number of patients in need of specialist care are referred to a psychiatric consultant. The aim of this research was to evaluate the consultation activity and the appropriateness of referral to psychiatric assessment. METHODS Data were collected and analysed on consultati...

BACKGROUND Dermatology is primarily considered to be an outpatient-centered specialty. However, several inpatient admissions to other specialties require dermatologic consultation for optimum management. AIMS To analyze the causes of inpatient dermatology referrals, departments sending referrals, and impact of dermatology consultation on patient management. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducte...

BACKGROUND Prompt utilization of health services on detecting breast symptoms can improve breast cancer (BC) survival. Little is known about Chinese women's help-seeking behaviour. Our aim was to determine patterns of self-referral among Hong Kong Chinese women with self-detected breast symptoms. METHODS We recruited 37 women awaiting their first consultation at public hospitals for breast sy...

BACKGROUND Periodically surveying wait times for specialist health services in Canada captures current data and enables comparisons with previous surveys to identify changes over time. METHODS During one week in April 2012, Canadian gastroenterologists were asked to complete a questionnaire (online or by fax) recording demographics, reason for referral, and dates of referral and specialist vi...

Background: There is a dearth of studies which are related to consultation-liaison psychiatry in India. The psychiatric referral rates in India are very low, considering the higher rates of psychiatric morbidity in patients who attend various departments of a hospital. Studying the pattern of psychiatric referrals may pave the way for interventions to improve the current scenario. Methods: The ...