Shared medical appointments and patient-centered experience: a mixed-methods systematic review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Delivery Models
• Primary Care Innovation
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Shared medical appointments (SMAs), also known as group visits, are an evolving healthcare delivery method.
• SMAs show potential for enhancing chronic disease management and preventive care services.
• Understanding patient experiences is key to optimizing SMAs in primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore opportunities, barriers, and limitations of SMAs.
• To analyze patient experiences within the primary care context.
• To synthesize existing literature on SMA models and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature searches were conducted across multiple databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, etc.).
• Included peer-reviewed publications from 1997 onwards, alongside grey literature.
• Thematic synthesis was used to analyze data from 13 quantitative, 11 qualitative, and 2 mixed-methods studies.

Main Results:

• Three consistent SMA models were identified: cooperative health care clinics, shared medical appointments/group visits, and group prenatal care (CenteringPregnancy®).
• Studies indicated SMAs are increasingly adopted in primary care without a single standardized approach.
• Implementation by patients and clinicians can lead to improved patient trust, perceived quality of care, quality of life, and clinical outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Shared medical appointments offer a flexible model for primary care, adaptable to various patient needs.
• Successful adoption hinges on both patient and clinician acceptance, leading to tangible improvements.
• Standardizing measures for patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes is crucial for future refinement and widespread implementation.