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Table 5 Associations between GP characteristics and referral for diagnostic imaging (n = 64) and to a specialist (n = 66)

From: A cross-sectional study reporting concussion exposure, assessment and management in Western Australian general practice

GP characteristics

Referral for diagnostic imaging

p-value#

Referral to specialist

p-value#

No (n = 35)

Yes (n = 29)

No (n = 31)

Yes (n = 35)

Hours worked at GP, mean ± standard deviation

32.1 ± 11.0

32.1 ± 9.3

0.98

34.5 ± 10.5

29.7 ± 9.2

0.05

Age groups (years old), n (%)

  

0.32

  

0.10

-  ≤ 45

17 (48.6)

18 (62.1)

 

14 (45.2)

23 (65.7)

 

-  > 45

18 (51.4)

11 (37.9)

 

17 (54.8)

12 (34.3)

 

Location of GP practice, n (%)

  

0.10

  

0.57

- Regional

11 (32.4)

4 (14.3)

 

8 (26.7)

7 (20.6)

 

- Metropolitan

23 (67.7)

24 (85.7)

 

22 (73.3)

27 (79.4)

 

Concussion diagnoses made/year, n (%)

  

0.69

  

0.06

-  < 5

20 (57.1)

18 (62.1)

 

15 (48.4)

25 (71.4)

 

-  ≥ 5

15 (42.9)

11 (37.9)

 

16 (51.6)

10 (28.6)

 

Work outside sessional load, n (%)

  

0.78

  

0.55

- No

23 (65.7)

20 (69.0)

 

20 (64.5)

25 (71.4)

 

- Yes

12 (34.3)

9 (31.0)

 

11 (35.5)

10 (28.6)

 

Ever heard of guidelines, n (%)

  

0.38

  

0.30

- No

12 (34.3)

7 (24.1)

 

7 (22.6)

12 (34.3)

 

- Yes

23 (65.7)

22 (75.9)

 

24 (77.4)

23 (65.7)

 

Have a protocol for coding, n (%)

  

0.47

  

0.99

- No

22 (62.9)

20 (71.4)

 

21 (67.7)

23 (67.7)

 

- Yes

13 (37.1)

8 (28.6)

 

10 (32.3)

11 (32.4)

 
  1. # Difference in mean hours worked between GP who referred for diagnostic imaging was assessed using independent-samples t-test. Associations between categorical demographic variables and referral for diagnostic imaging were assessed using Chi-squared tests. The same statistical approach was applied for referral to specialist