Data quality in primary care, Scotland

This project explores primary care data quality (DQ) across Scotland.

A survey was sent to primary care staff in winter 2019. National data regarding Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) performance indicators and the GP software system used was obtained, analysed with T-tests and Chi-squared tests. Overall QOF performance with non-financial incentives from 918 practices was 77%. There was no significant difference with overall QOF performance against GP system (p = 0.46) or if the practice had a coder (p = 0.06). From the survey, search systems that make it hard to search for particular codes was the most important barrier to DQ; 61% of respondents (n = 491) felt there was particular information GPs should code, 16% of respondents stated that hospital discharge letters generally include corresponding codes and 9% for outpatient correspondence; 43% stated their practice had undertaken steps to improve DQ, training was the most common initiative, followed by workflow optimisation, dedicated coder(s), audit, guidelines and using code lists; 80% (n = 475) of respondents had received training in using their GP system, an average of eight years ago.

Obtaining improved GP systems, training, agreeing what GPs should code and improving transfer of data should be explored.