Abstract:
This study was designed to find out whether the use of a standardized structured referral
letter would improve communications in referral. The study was conducted in a sample of
eight family practices located in and around Colombo within a radius of 15 km. These
practices were purposively selected and randomly allocated into a control group A and an
intervention group B. The rate of return of patients after referral was below 50 percent in all
the practices, and the rate of reply from consultants was even lower. Replies that were
received from consultants contained useful information. A significantly better rate of reply
was obtained from referrals made to the private sector than to the public sector. There was
no significant difference in reply rates from the specialties. When the structured referral
letter was used inclusion of essential patient information improved, but it had no significant
effect on the rate of reply from consultants
