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Assessment of information included on the GOS 18 referral form used by optometrists

2003; Wiley; Volume: 23; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1046/j.1475-1313.2003.00084.x

1475-1313

Stephen Lash,

Traumatic Ocular and Foreign Body Injuries

To audit the information included on GOS 18 forms used by UK optometrists when referring patients to an ophthalmologist.All GOS 18 forms received in a hospital ophthalmology department over a 10-week period were photocopied and the categories of information presented were recorded.A total of 444 forms were analysed. The two most common referral categories were cataract 36.7% (n = 163) and glaucoma 18.4% (n = 82). Only 7% (n = 11) of cataract referrals included details regarding effect on patient's lifestyle and willingness for surgery. Forty-seven per cent (n = 77) of referrals for cataract resulted in patients being listed for surgery. Eighty-two per cent (n = 67) of referrals for glaucoma included disc assessment, intraocular pressure and visual fields. Five per cent (n = 22) of optometrists gained the patients' consent for release of clinical information. Thirty-one per cent (n = 137) of forms had no practitioner name and 6% (n = 27) gave no practice address.Information included on GOS 18 forms could be improved with regard to cataract referrals. Feedback from ophthalmologists would be facilitated by inclusion of practitioner/practice details, and by completion of the consent section on the GOS 18.