Study of a two?way referral mode for the treatment of cervical disease within a medical alliance / 中华健康管理学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the establishment of a two-way referral system for the treatment of cervical diseases within a medical alliance. The two-way referral system was introduced to reduce the morbidity and mortality of cervical cancer through better management of patients'who have tested positive for cervical disease, screening effectively for early diagnosis and treatment of cervical precancerous lesions, and providing early interventions for cervical cancer patients. Methods The control group consisted of 2, 515 patients who had screened positive for cervical disease between January 2018 and December 2018 at one of four community health service centers that were not within the medical alliance. The experimental group consisted of 2, 384 patients who had screened positive for cervical disease at one of four community health service centers in the medical alliance. The control group was treated using the original management mode;the experimental group's treatment was managed within the two-way referral system, which included standardized screening, referral, follow-up, health education, and professional training. The hospital visit rates, time intervals from diagnosis to the start of interventions, detection rates, and treatment rates were observed for both groups of women. Results The hospital visit rates, detection rates, and treatment rates were higher for those in the experimental group than the control group. The time interval from receiving a diagnosis to the first hospital visit was (16.9±11.5) days for patients in the experimental group and (25.7±20.9)days for those in the control group. The difference was a statistically significant (-0.05). Conclusion The management of cases in a two-way referral system within a medical alliance facilitates patients receiving earlier diagnosis and treatment for cervical pre-cancerous lesions and malignant tumors. Such efficiency improvements may reduce morbidity and mortality as well as help control medical costs, all of which have long-term economic and social significance.