IS THERE A RELATION BETWEEN WAITING-LIST LENGTH AND SURGERY RATE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the differences in wa iting-list lengths between hospitals can result from differences in de mand for surgery. We compared waiting-list lengths for seven surgical procedures to the rates of these procedures. The numbers of procedures were obtained from the 1987 Finnish Hospital Discharge Register, and the numbers of patients on the waiting lists were obtained from an inq uiry made to Finnish hospitals in 1987. Correlation coefficients were calculated between population-based waiting-list lengths and procedure rates. Significant, positive correlations were found between populati on-based waiting-list lengths and rates for operations on hallux valgu s, for herniorrhaphy and for hysterectomy. Rates for cholecystectomy a nd haemorrhoidectomy were also positively correlated with waiting-list lengths, but these correlations were not statistically significant. T here was no correlation for varicose-vein operations, and a negative c orrelation for cataract extraction. These results suggest that insuffi cient resources are not the only reason for long waiting lists; but, b oth long waiting lists and a high rate of surgery can result from a hi gh demand for surgery, influenced by physicians' decisions. If the wai ting list is long because surgical treatment is preferred, the answer is not necessarily to increase resources, but to examine critically th e indications for surgery.