Communication between a specialist dental hospital department and referring general dental practitioners: an attempt at clinical audit.

A study of the communication between an Oral Medicine Unit and general dental practitioners (GDP) in the West of Scotland is reported. This investigation was done by means of a postal questionnaire aimed at identifying the factors affecting the efficiency of communication and possible ways of improving the communication. The authors were concerned that in correspondence sent back to the referring GDP there may be some factor involved in the patient's care which was being omitted and which GDPs would like to see included in future correspondence. In addition the authors wished to ascertain the familiarity of the GDP, with the procedure for referring a patient to the Unit. The final part of the questionnaire invited constructive comments and criticisms from the GDP. Fifty percent of GDPs who responded to the questionnaire thought that the information received on the diagnosis, details of drug therapy and follow-up requirements of the patient was essential. Nearly all GDPs were familiar with the procedure for referring a patient to the clinic. However, only 57% were satisfied with the time lapse between the initial referral and receiving a reply. This data, together with other findings of the survey, is being actively employed to improve communication between the Oral Medicine Unit and GDPs in the West of Scotland.