Understanding the impact of a multispecialty electronic consultation service on family physician referral rates to specialists: a randomized controlled trial using health administrative data

Table 4 Unadjusted and adjusted^a multivariable regression analyses of primary and secondary outcomes

	Unadjusted			^aAdjusted
	RR	95% CIs	p value	RR	95% CIs	p value
Referrals to eConsult specialties (primary outcome)
Between-arm (control vs eConsult) difference, pre intervention	0.88	0.79–0.99	0.03	0.89	0.79–0.99	0.03
Between-arm difference, post intervention	0.94	0.84–1.06	0.30	0.95	0.85–1.06	0.34
Control arm, change from pre to post intervention	0.85	0.79–0.91	< 0.0001	0.85	0.79–0.91	< 0.0001
Intervention arm, change from pre to post intervention	0.80	0.74–0.85	< 0.0001	0.79	0.74–0.85	< 0.0001
Between-arm differences in pre- to post-intervention change	0.94	0.85–1.03	0.18	0.93	0.85–1.03	0.17
Overall referrals (secondary outcome)
Between-arm difference, pre intervention	0.88	0.79–0.99	0.03	0.89	0.79–0.99	0.03
Between-arm difference, post intervention	0.94	0.84–1.05	0.25	0.94	0.84–1.05	0.30
Control arm, change from pre to postintervention	0.89	0.83–0.95	0.0006	0.89	0.82–0.95	0.001
Intervention arm, change from pre to post intervention	0.83	0.78–0.89	< 0.0001	0.83	0.78–0.89	< 0.0001
Between-arm differences in pre- to post-intervention change	0.94	0.85–1.04	0.22	0.94	0.85–1.04	0.22

Comparator = control arm, RR < 1 means a lower referral rate (or change in referral rates) in the intervention arm than in the control arm
^aAll regression models were adjusted for the following physician characteristics: years since graduation, location of medical training, and practice model (Capitation: Interdisciplinary (Family Health Team (FHT))/Capitation: Non-interdisciplinary (not FHT)/Reformed Fee for service, Traditional Fee for service, other)
Note: List of specialties available on eConsult at the beginning of the study available in “Appendix”
CI confidence interval, RR Rate Ratio

ISSN: 1745-6215