Volume 54, Issue 9 pp. 1557-1560

Brief Communication

Optimising the structure of outpatient clinic letters: insights from a survey of general practitioners and hospital doctors

Thisuri Jayawardena,

Corresponding Author

Thisuri Jayawardena

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0003-4477-9960

Department of Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Correspondence

Thisuri Jayawardena, Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Hospital Avenue, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.

Email: [email protected]

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Cory Lei,

Cory Lei

Hospital General Practice Liaison, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

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Katie McLeod,

Katie McLeod

Department of Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

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Aron Chakera,

Aron Chakera

Department of Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

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Thisuri Jayawardena,

Corresponding Author

Thisuri Jayawardena

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0003-4477-9960

Department of Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Correspondence

Thisuri Jayawardena, Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Hospital Avenue, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.

Email: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author

Cory Lei,

Cory Lei

Hospital General Practice Liaison, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Search for more papers by this author

Katie McLeod,

Katie McLeod

Department of Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Search for more papers by this author

Aron Chakera,

Aron Chakera

Department of Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 29 July 2024

https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.16460

Citations: 1

Funding: None.

Conflict of interest: None.

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Abstract

Outpatient letters are an essential communication tool in healthcare. Yet doctors receive little training on letter writing and what details recipients consider important. We surveyed 106 hospital doctors and 63 general practitioners (GPs), identifying differences in each group's preferences; GPs preferred more structured, detailed letters. Opportunities for feedback, formal templates and advanced software systems can improve communication in outpatient clinics.

Supporting Information

References

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Citing Literature

Volume54, Issue9

September 2024

Pages 1557-1560

Filename	Description
imj16460-sup-0001-Appendix_1.docxWord 2007 document , 554.7 KB	Appendix 1. Template letters.
imj16460-sup-0002-Appendix_2.docxWord 2007 document , 21.2 KB	Appendix 2. Surveys.
imj16460-sup-0003-Appendix_3.docxWord 2007 document , 13.9 KB	Appendix 3. Major themes from qualitative feedback received in a survey of doctors' preferences regarding structuring of clinic letters.

Optimising the structure of outpatient clinic letters: insights from a survey of general practitioners and hospital doctors

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Optimising the structure of outpatient clinic letters: insights from a survey of general practitioners and hospital doctors

Abstract

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