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Forty-eight hour access to primary care: practice factors predicting patients' perceptions
John L Campbell1, Jean Ramsay, Judith Green
1Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, UK. john.campbell@pms.ac.uk
Family Practice
|March 22, 2005
Summary
Patient perceptions of general practitioner (GP) availability are influenced by practice administration and appointment systems. Key factors include waiting room usage, emergency appointment procedures, and the level of practice computerization.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Healthcare Management
- Patient Experience Research
Background:
- The UK government aims for a 48-hour target for general practitioner (GP) availability.
- National surveys indicate a decline in patient-reported doctor accessibility.
- Understanding factors influencing patient perceptions of GP availability is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify practice-level factors associated with patient perceptions of doctor availability.
- To investigate the relationship between administrative and operational characteristics and patient-reported GP accessibility.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional patient survey was conducted with 7,247 respondents from 54 inner London general practices.
- The General Practice Assessment Survey was utilized to gather patient data.
- Patient responses regarding appointment wait times were analyzed in relation to practice characteristics.
Main Results:
- Three administrative and appointment system factors independently predicted patient perceptions of doctor availability.
- These factors included the proportion of patients asked to wait, the use of emergency surgery arrangements, and the degree of practice computerization.
Conclusions:
- Some general practices may struggle to meet the 48-hour GP availability target.
- Reviewing and optimizing practice administrative procedures is essential for improving GP availability and patient satisfaction.