What patients want from access to UK general practice: systematic review

Area of Science:

• General Practice and Primary Care Research
• Health Services Research
• Patient Experience Studies

Background:

• Access to UK general practice is strained by increasing consultations and fewer practitioners.
• Patient satisfaction with general practice has declined in the UK.
• This study addresses the need to understand patient priorities for accessing primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patient desires regarding access to contemporary UK general practice.
• To identify key factors influencing patient satisfaction with primary care access.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of empirical studies (quantitative and qualitative) published since 2010.
• Studies focused on patient wants related to general practice access in the UK.
• Narrative synthesis used to analyze and present findings from 33 included studies.

Main Results:

• Patients desire accessible information on how to access services.
• Preferences include choice of clinician, healthcare professional type, and consultation mode.
• Convenience factors include proximity, clean facilities, simple booking, short waits, and clear communication.

Conclusions:

• Patient-centered factors in access should guide the development of primary care strategies.
• Future research and evaluations must prioritize understanding patient wants for general practice access.