: Otolaryngology conditions significantly influence public health globally, often posing challenges in accessing specialized ear, nose, and throat (ENT) services. Digital referral systems can facilitate access to specialized care while supporting resource allocation....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No actionable change for individual clinical practice; findings are descriptive health-systems data specific to Saudi Arabia's digital referral infrastructure.
Understanding digital referral bottlenecks in ENT/audiology pathways at a national level can inform health system planning and improve patient access to hearing care.
- 01Two-year nationwide dataset from Saudi Arabia's digital referral system was analyzed.
- 02Study covers all otolaryngology subspecialties, which may include audiology and cochlear implant services.
- 03Results reflect healthcare access patterns specific to the Saudi health system.
- 04Descriptive/epidemiological in design; no intervention tested.
- 05Published in Healthcare (MDPI).
- PMID
- 42736832
- DOI
- 10.3390/healthcare14172675.
- Journal
- Healthcare
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- All patients referred digitally to otolaryngology subspecialties across Saudi Arabia over a two-year period
- Intervention
- Analysis of digital referral patterns
Primary outcomes
Volume and distribution of digital referrals across ENT subspecialties; Referral system effectiveness and access patterns
