Patient Demographics and Factors Influencing Access to General Practitioner Services for Musculoskeletal Pain in the United Kingdom.

Abstract

Access to general practitioner (GP) services is essential for managing musculoskeletal pain. This study investigates the relationship between patient demographics, co-morbidities, health behaviours and difficulty in accessing GP services in the United Kingdom. Significant associations were explored between age, co-morbidities and ease of securing GP appointments. This analysis provides insights into the barriers patients face and suggests targeted interventions for improving access to primary care. A cross-sectional study was conducted using survey data from participants of various ages, ethnicities and socioeconomic statuses with either localised or generalised musculoskeletal pain. Relationships between key variables, such as age, co-morbidities and difficulty in accessing GP services, were examined using chi-square tests (for nominal variables) and Kruskal-Wallis tests (for nominal and ordinal variables). A total of 503 respondents participated in the online questionnaire. In all, 66% of the respondents were female. The majority of participants were Caucasian (69%), followed by South Asians (19%), with the remainder identifying as Black or of mixed ethnicity. Most respondents (62%) reported experiencing musculoskeletal pain for over 2years. Significant associations were found between the age of the participants and difficulty in accessing GP services (χ2(20)=39, p=0.006), co-morbidities and the impact of delayed GP reviews on patients' musculoskeletal pain (χ2(10)=31, p=0.001), employment status and alternative care choices (χ2(4)=10.99, p=0.027). These results highlight the multifaceted nature of healthcare access for patients of various ages with musculoskeletal pain. Age, co-morbidities and employment status significantly influence access to GP services. Future studies should explore additional systemic healthcare barriers and develop personalised interventions to improve access for high-risk populations.