BMJ : British medical journal
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To investigate the relation between general practitioners' referral rates to individual specialties and the individual areas of expertise of the referring doctors. ⋯ A high referral rate does not necessarily imply a high level of inappropriate referral.
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To determine whether the excess aluminum sulphate accidentally added to the local water supply in north Cornwall in July 1988 had an adverse effect on the outcome of pregnancies. ⋯ Because of small numbers it is not possible to say that high doses of aluminum sulphate are safe in pregnancy, but there is no evidence from this study of major problems apparent at birth.
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To assess the effect of pressure from patients on patterns of general practitioners' outpatient referrals. ⋯ The pressure from patients to refer reported by general practitioners is related both to general practitioners' characteristics and to the nature of the referral. Pressure to refer seems to explain some of the variation in referral rates among general practitioners.