@article { , title = {Preclinic telephone consultations: an observational cohort study}, abstract = {Patients referred to secondary care for specialist respiratory review frequently undergo multiple hospital attendances for investigations and consultations. This study evaluated the potential of a preclinic telephone consultation and subsequent coordination of tests and face-to-face consultations to reduce hospital visits. Total hospital attendances were recorded for three cohorts (participants, non-participants and comparators) for 6 months from first specialist contact. Patients completed the medical interview satisfaction scale-21 (MISS-21). The study showed that a preclinic telephone consultation can significantly reduce hospital visits over a fixed period without reducing patient satisfaction. In total, 20.8\% of the participant group had three or more hospital attendances compared with 42.9\% of the non-participant group (p=0.001) and 44.7\% of the comparator group (p=0.002). Participants had fewer follow up visits and lower rates of non-attendance/late rearrangement of appointments. This service reduces unnecessary hospital visits, seems to improve patient compliance and may save costs associated with non-attendance and follow up consultations.}, doi = {10.7861/clinmedicine.12-2-140}, eissn = {1473-4893}, issn = {1470-2118}, issue = {2}, journal = {Clinical Medicine}, pages = {140-145}, publicationstatus = {Published}, publisher = {Royal College of Physicians}, url = {http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2899597}, volume = {12}, keyword = {Consultations, respiratory, telephone}, year = {2012}, author = {O'Byrne, L and Roberts, NJ and Partridge, MR} }