《Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice》 ›› 2023, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (12): 1481-1488.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2023.12.013

• Original article • Previous Articles    

Downward referral willingness of rehabilitation patients in an urban medical group and its influencing factors

LI Jingyu1,2, LÜ Yun3, XIN Yu1, LI Shuo1,4, PENG Sijing1,2, MI Zhongxiang5()   

  1. 1. Institute for Hospital Management of Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
    2. Sinopharm Healthcare Corporation, Beijing 100029, China
    3. Sinopharm Tongmei General Hospital, Datong, Shanxi 037003, China
    4. Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 101100, China
    5. China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing 100068, China
  • Received:2023-11-15 Revised:2023-11-27 Published:2023-12-25 Online:2023-12-28
  • Contact: MI Zhongxiang, E-mail: mzhx1@sina.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the willingness of rehabilitation patients within an urban medical group to accept downward referrals and analyze the influencing factors.

Methods From June to October, 2023, a survey was conducted using a simple random sampling method among neurological and orthopedic rehabilitation patients in hospitals within a specific urban medical group. The 2013 version of the Andersen Model was employed to construct a theoretical framework for the willingness of rehabilitation patients to accept downward referrals and influencing factors. Within this framework, a questionnaire was designed using a 5-point Likert scale, comprising three sections including personal characteristics, environmental features and healthcare service utilization choices, totaling 23 questions. A preliminary survey was conducted, and the questionnaire had underwent reliability and validity testing.

Results A total of 350 questionnaires were collected, with 314 valid questionnaires. The willingness of rehabilitation patients to accept downward referrals was found to be associated with age, rehabilitation specialties, rehabilitation phases, previous experiences with downward referrals, awareness of and perceptions regarding bidirectional referral policies, and understanding and opinions about the urban medical group (χ2 > 7.755, P < 0.05). The primary influencing factors were rehabilitation specialties, rehabilitation phases, previous experiences with downward referrals and perceptions of the necessity of bidirectional referral policies (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Rehabilitation specialties, rehabilitation phases, previous experiences with downward referrals and perceptions of the necessity of bidirectional referral policies are the primary factors that influenced the willingness of rehabilitation patients to accept downward referrals. We should formulate targeted and focused improvement measures based on the specific circumstances and key influencing factors of rehabilitation patients within the urban medical group regarding their willingness to accept downward referrals. Continuously enhancing the proportion of patients willingness to accept downward referrals is essential for the effective implementation of bidirectional referral for rehabilitation patients.

Key words: rehabilitation, downward referral, influencing factors, urban medical group

CLC Number: