Considerations for conducting a young person’s health assessment in the general practice setting: Insights from key informants in Victoria

Abstract

There have been calls for a Medicare Benefits Schedule rebate to support a young person's health assessment in general practice. The aim of this study was to understand Victorian providers' needs and perspectives about implementing young people's health assessments in general practice. Focus groups and interviews were conducted over Zoom with current generalpractitioners (GPs), practice nurses (PNs) and practice managers (PMs). A qualitative descriptive approach and conventional content analysis wereused. Two focus groups and five interviews were conducted between September andNovember 2021. Participants (11GPs,ninePNs and three PMs) represented metropolitan (n=11), regional (n=10) and rural (n=2) Victoria. Key facilitators to implementing a young person's health assessment included established clinic systems and staff roles as well as the potential to empower young people. Key barriers included scheduling logistics and billing structures. Key informants generated substantive stakeholder perspectives to aid planning and implementing young people's health assessments in general practice.