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The development and use of a triage protocol for patients with dental problems contacting an out-of-hours general medical practitioner cooperative
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Horton, Michael, Harris, Rebecca V. and Ireland, Robert, MFGCP (2001) The development and use of a triage protocol for patients with dental problems contacting an out-of-hours general medical practitioner cooperative. Primary Dental Care, Volume 8 (Number 3). pp. 93-97. doi:10.1308/135576101322561886 ISSN 1355-7610.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1308/135576101322561886
Abstract
Purpose of the study: The number of patients contacting general medical practitioner (GMP) out-of-hours services with dental problems is perceived to be a significant problem by the medical profession. This study was undertaken to design and pilot a triage protocol that could be used by non-dental staff to refer callers with dental complaints for appropriate treatment.
Basic procedures: A triage protocol was designed to address the patient conditions considered to be relevant to emergency dental care. The triage protocol was piloted for three months at a GMP cooperative in North Wales, which provided an out-of-hours service for 61 GMPs. Baseline data were collected for three months prior to the introduction of the triage protocol.
Main findings: The study showed that the number of dental callers contacting the out-of-hours service was not as great as GMPs imagined, and was similar to other studies. The introduction of the triage protocol resulted in a rise in the number of callers asked to call the general dental practitioner (GDP) support line. The number of unregistered patients given the name of a dentist also increased. The need to make a second telephone call seemed not to affect patient satisfaction since when patients were later questioned on their experience, those who had used the service since the introduction of the triage protocol were more likely to be satisfied with the service.
Principal conclusions: This study provides some evidence that a triage protocol can be used successfully by non-dental staff to sift requests for out-of-hours emergency dental care.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
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Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Primary Dental Care | ||||
Publisher: | Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) | ||||
ISSN: | 1355-7610 | ||||
Official Date: | 1 July 2001 | ||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | Volume 8 | ||||
Number: | Number 3 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 93-97 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1308/135576101322561886 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
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