ScholarDeck

Cross-sectionalJournal of family medicine and primary care · 2026

Exploring plastic and reconstructive surgery referral pathways: Insights from primary care physicians in Bahrain.

Abdulla A Fakhro, Ali M Humood, Yusuf Althawadi

Read paper

Plastic SurgeryCross-sectional

Many primary care physicians rely on personal judgment for plastic surgery referrals.

Exploring plastic and reconstructive surgery referral pathways: Insights from primary care physicians in Bahrain.

Abdulla A Fakhro et al. · Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2026

Background

Primary care physicians (PCPs) serve as the frontline of healthcare systems worldwide, acting as gatekeepers for specialist referrals.

Methods

Completed a validated 14-item questionnaire.

n = 97

39.2%

Results

primary care doctors relied on personal judgment for plastic surgery referrals

n = 97

More results

Seventy-four PCPs participated (response rate: 76.3%).

Nearly one-third (31.1%) reported that no specific referral criteria existed at their health center.

The majority (67.6%) acknowledged plastic surgery as an important specialty that is able to transform lives, while a minority perceived it as primarily cosmetic.

More results

Over half (54.1%) identified the lack of clear referral criteria as their principal challenge.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

PCP referral practices to plastic surgery lack standardized guidelines and frequently rely on personal judgment, which may contribute to inappropriate referrals, higher healthcare costs, and inefficient resource allocation.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings, while derived from a single governorate in Bahrain, reflect challenges common to healthcare systems with similar primary-to-secondary care structures.

Post

Exploring plastic and reconstructive surgery referral pathways: Insights from primary care physicians in Bahrain.

Many primary care physicians rely on personal judgment for plastic surgery referrals.

Related papers