RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To find the characteristics of paediatric referrals to the referral hospital. DESIGN: An epidemiological study of a crossover type. SETTING: Two paediatric clinics at an urban Health Centre. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive sample of 384 referrals during 1992. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 3.94% of patients were referred. Nursing babies were the most commonly referred group. The commonest diagnostic groups were: congenital anomalies (25.5%), Neurology and sense organs (24%) and Respiratory Pathology (15.9%). The clinics to which patients were most commonly referred were: Traumatology (25.5%), Ophthalmology (21.4%) and ENT (21.4%). 80.6% of the Traumatology referrals were for congenital anomalies. 72.9% were referred for confirmation of the diagnosis. 56.8% came from on-demand consultations and 43.2% from appointments. 84.6% were of a normal character. In 27.3% there was a written report from the specialist. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital anomalies made by the most frequently referred diagnostic group; and Traumatology the most consulted specialty. There was a low instance of referral at the patient's own request. There was a high number of patients referred from among patients with appointments. There was scant information from the specialist to the Paediatrician.
