Healthcare costs incurred by patients repeatedly referred to secondary medical care with medically unexplained symptoms: a cost of illness study.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: Some patients are repeatedly referred from primary to secondary care with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). We aimed to estimate the healthcare costs incurred by such referrals and to compare them with those incurred by other referred patients from the same defined primary care sample. METHODS: Using a referral database and case note review, all adult patients aged less than 65 years, who had been referred to specialist medical services from one of five UK National Health Ser...

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Authors: Burton, C; McGorm, K; Richardson, G; Weller, D; Sharpe, M

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of psychosomatic research
• Volume: 72
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 242-247
• Publication date: 2012-03-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.12.009
• EISSN: 1879-1360
• ISSN: 0022-3999
• Language: English
• Keywords: Appointments and Schedules; Male; Great Britain; Patient Preference; Humans; Referral and Consultation; Health Services Misuse; Cost Savings; Cost of Illness; Medical Records; Primary Health Care; Psychophysiologic Disorders; Anxiety; Health Care Costs; Female; Adult; Depression; Middle Aged; Specialization; State Medicine