Evaluating psychiatric consultations in the general hospital. Multivariate prediction of concordance

Abstract

A study of 316 consultation cases was undertaken to examine the concordance between the psychiatric consultants' recommendations and the consultees' follow-through. Using a model of case concordance (defined as the proportion of all recommendations followed on each case), it was demonstrated that process variables, including who (the referring doctor p < or = 0.07) recommended what (psychosocial ward management p < 0.01, psychosocial diagnostic action p < 0.01, biological diagnostic action p < 0.01, aftercare p < or = 0.02, and number of recommendations p < or = 0.03), and when (timing of consultation p < or = 0.02), were the significant predictors of case concordance rather than clinical or demographic variables.