Differences among Ophthalmology Patients Referred to Tertiary Medical Centers according to Referral Hospital

Kim, Heesuk; Kim, Hong Kyu; Rim, Tyler Hyungtaek; Kim, Ji Won; Kim, Jin Hyung; Kim, Sung Soo

When hospitals were classified according to doctors' medical specialty, there was no difference in patients' sex according to medical specialty ( p = 0.223); however, patients referred from non-eye specialists were significantly younger ( p < 0.001). A significant difference was observed among patients under the age of 20 ( p < 0.001), while no significant differences were observed among over the age of 20 (20-49, ≥50; p = 0.675, p = 0.064, respectively). When the proportion of the patients who required medical care were compared, an increasing rate were found in the order of non-eye specialists, eye specialists, and eye specialists in trainee hospital ( p < 0.001). Such differences were observed across all age groups (<20, 20-49, ≥50; p < 0.001, p = 0.029, p = 0.004, respectively). With respect to the medical fees paid for the six months following the initial hospital visit, the medical fees increased in the order of non-eye specialists, eye specialists, and eye specialists in trainee hospital ( p < 0.001). Such differences were observed across all age groups (p < 0.001, p = 0.011, p < 0.001, respectively) ( Table 3) .