Table 3 Overview of objective 2
| Â | Indicators | Data collection instruments | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
Referrals | Number of surgical cases referred by DLHs to RHs Type of surgical cases referred by DLHs to higher level hospitals Key drivers of referrals | Referral data collection tool (monthly review of data from surgical referral registers maintained at the main RHs) PIPES questionnaire | Analysis of changes in referral patterns over time and between intervention and control hospitals |
Responsive communications and close referral feedback mechanisms between DLHs and RHs | Frequency of communications via managed clinical support network Timeliness of communications via managed clinical support network | A logbook monitoring communication between DLH clinicians and specialist supervisors | Analysis of utilisation of the managed clinical support networks |