Hide
Show all
Email this article Referral and consultation at the adult Endocrinology outpatient clinic: A cross-sectional study.
Abstract
Background
Knowledge of the pattern of referrals to the Endocrinologist helps in optimizing care and allocating resources. However, there is a dearth of information about the endocrinology outpatient service in a private tertiary setting in sub-Saharan Africa. The study aims to bridge this gap.
Methods
It is a cross-sectional study. New referrals to an endocrinology clinic were analyzed over 16 months, and the outcomes of interest included the sociodemographics, waiting time, sources of referral, and diagnoses.
Results
The final sample size was 122. The age ranged between 18 and 87 years, and the median age was 55 years. Among the participants, 51.6% were males. The appointment wait time ranged between 0 and 48 days, and the median time was 7 days. Most of the referrals came from the general practitioner clinic (48.4%) and the Cardiology clinic (21.3%). Diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases were the most commonly seen diagnoses in this study.
Conclusions
The burden of endocrine disorders is huge, mainly from diabetes and thyroid diseases, with referrals coming from different sections of the hospital and from other hospitals.
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Baum HBA. Clinical Excellence in Endocrinology. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2018 Jul 1;103(7):2430–5.
Ben-Shlomo A, Fleseriu M. Updates in the Genetics of Endocrine Disorders. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2017 Jun;46(2):xiii–xiv.
Tsai K, Long C, Liang TZ, Napolitano J, Khawaja R, Leung AM. Driving Factors to Pursue Endocrinology Training Fellowship: Empirical Survey Data and Future Strategies. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 May 17;107(6):e2459–63.
Sibbald SL, Gibson JL, Singer PA, Upshur R, Martin DK. Evaluating priority setting success in healthcare: a pilot study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2010 May 19;10:131.
Sadiq AM, Kilonzo KG. Pattern of diseases and clinical outcomes in medical intensive care unit at a tertiary hospital in northeastern Tanzania: A three-year retrospective study. PLOS ONE. 2023 Feb 24;18(2):e0282269.
Basu S, Andrews J, Kishore S, Panjabi R, Stuckler D. Comparative Performance of Private and Public Healthcare Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. PLoS Med. 2012 Jun 19;9(6):e1001244.
Idowu AO, Adesegun OA, Osonuga A, Osibowale B, Ajiro T, Ngubor TD, et al. Patterns and Impact of Consultations to an Endocrinology Unit in a Tertiary Hospital in Southwestern Nigeria. Niger Med J. 2018;59(3):28–32.
Ale AO, Odusan O. Spectrum of endocrine disorders as seen in a tertiary health facility in Sagamu, Southwest Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Journal. 2019 Sep 1;60(5):252.
Sarfo-Kantanka O, Sarfo FS, Ansah EO, Kyei I. Spectrum of Endocrine Disorders in Central Ghana. Int J Endocrinol. 2017;2017:5470731.
Sabir A, Ohwovoriole A, Isezuo S, Fasanmade O, Abubakar S, Iwuala S. Type 2 diabetes mellitus and its risk factors among the rural Fulanis of northern Nigeria. Annals of African Medicine. 2013 Oct 1;12(4):217.
Diawara A, Coulibaly DM, Hussain TYA, Cisse C, Li J, Wele M, et al. Type 2 diabetes prevalence, awareness, and risk factors in rural Mali: a cross-sectional study. Sci Rep. 2023 Mar 6;13(1):3718.
Amadi ANC, Amoke OC, Agbai PO. Prevalence: knowledge, attitude and management practices of diabetes mellitus and hypertension in Amaoba Ikwuano Abia State Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management. 2018;22(12):1969–74.
Kautzky-Willer A, Harreiter J, Pacini G. Sex and Gender Differences in Risk, Pathophysiology and Complications of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Endocr Rev. 2016 Jun;37(3):278–316.
Anumah FO. Challenges of endocrinology practice in Nigeria: four illustrative cases. Ann Afr Med. 2008 Mar;7(1):38–41.
Azeez T, Eguzozie. Endocrinology Practice in COVID-19 era: The Nigeria experience. Journal of Clinical and Molecular Endocrinology. 2020 Jul 29. J. Clin. Mol. Endocrinol. 5(2): 18.
El-Mahalli A. Appointment Delay among Patients Attending Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic of Al-Qatif Central Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Journal of High Institute of Public Health. 2009 Jul 1;39(3):551–64.
Thind A, Stewart M, Manuel D, Freeman T, Terry A, Chevendra V, et al. What Are Wait Times to See a Specialist? An Analysis of 26,942 Referrals in Southwestern Ontario. Healthc Policy. 2012 Aug;8(1):80–91.
Binu AJ, Cherian KE, Kapoor N, Chacko ST, George O, Paul TV. The Heart of the Matter: Cardiac Manifestations of Endocrine Disease. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2017;21(6):919–25.
Uloko AE, Musa BM, Ramalan MA, Gezawa ID, Puepet FH, Uloko AT, et al. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Diabetes Mellitus in Nigeria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Diabetes Ther. 2018 Jun;9(3):1307–16.
Saeedi P, Petersohn I, Salpea P, Malanda B, Karuranga S, Unwin N, et al. Global and regional diabetes prevalence estimates for 2019 and projections for 2030 and 2045: Results from the International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas, 9th edition. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2019 Nov 1;157:107843.
Dew R, King K, Okosieme OE, Pearce SH, Donovan G, Taylor PN, et al. Attitudes and perceptions of health professionals towards management of hypothyroidism in general practice: a qualitative interview study. BMJ Open. 2018 Feb 21;8(2):e019970.
Hussien N, Eldin R. Knowledge and Attitude of Doctors in Primary Care Settings Towards Thyroid Disorders: An Interventional Study. Science Journal of Public Health. 2021 Jan 1;9:36.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
ISSN: 2346-8491 (online)