A study published in June in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care has looked, for the first time, at how primary care physicians in Bahrain decide when to refer a patient to plastic surgery.
The researchers surveyed doctors at all five primary health care centres in Muharraq Governorate. Of 97 eligible physicians, 74 took part.
What they found
- 54.1% named the lack of clear referral criteria as their main difficulty.
- 39.2% said they relied on their own clinical judgement to decide on a referral.
- Most referrals are infrequent: 86.5% referred to plastic surgery less than once a month.
- Traumatic injuries and congenital anomalies were the most common reasons for referral.
- Around two thirds saw plastic surgery as a field that can transform patients’ lives, while about a third thought of it mainly as aesthetic.
What they recommend
The authors suggest evidence-based referral guidelines, more plastic surgery teaching in primary care training and continuing medical education, clearer communication between family physicians and plastic surgeons, and regular audit of referral patterns.
The study was carried out by Dr. Abdulla Fakhro, Dr. Ali Humood and Dr. Yusuf Althawadi.
Sources: Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care (full text) · Gulf Daily News, 27 June 2026