English General Practices Research Articles

Continuity and locum use for acute consultations: observational study of subsequent workload.

Workload is probably the biggest challenge facing general practice and little is known about any modifiable factors. For GPs, both continuity and locum status are associated with differences in outcomes. To determine whether practice and hospital workload after an index acute consultation depend on the type of GP consulted (locums and practice GPs with [regular] and without [non-regular] continuity, and locums). An observational, cross-sectional analysis of consultation-level data from English general practices from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink from 2015 to 2017. Antibiotic prescription was used as a marker for acute consultations with regression models to calculate adjusted relative risks for emergency department consultations and admissions, outpatient referrals, and test ordering, as well as the patients' GP reconsultation interval following consultations with the three types of GP. After adjustment, consultations with antibiotic prescriptions with regular GPs with continuity were associated with fewer subsequent hospital admissions and lower emergency department use but higher outpatient referrals relative to locums and non-regular GPs. Locums ordered tests less often (relative risk [RR] -24.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -27.3 to -21.2) than regular GPs whereas non-regular GPs ordered tests more often (RR 19.1%, 95% CI = = 16.4 to 21.8). Patients seeing their regular GP had on average a 9% longer (95% CI = 8 to 10) reconsultation interval than if they saw any other GP. The differences in outcomes were associated more with having continuity than with GP locum status. Seeing a GP with whom the patient had continuity of care was associated with reduced workload within the practice and in hospital.

Inequalities in cancer two-week-wait referrals: a cross-sectional study in English general practice.

Practices with higher two-week-wait (2WW) referral-rates demonstrate higher survival for several cancers. Yet, there is little up-to-date evidence exploring factors influencing 2WW-referral-rates and whether health inequalities exist, particularly after COVID-19. To establish which patient-factors (eg, age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation) and practice-factors (eg, remote consultations, frequency of seeing a preferred-GP) independently predict 2WW-referral-rates. A cross-sectional, observational study was performed using data from English general practices for 2021-2022. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify the strongest, independent predictors of 2WW-referral-rates for all-cancers (primary outcome) and for breast, lower-gastrointestinal, lung and skin cancers separately (secondary outcome). The analysis included 6307 practices. Practices with more females, patients aged 75+and with a greater burden of long-term conditions were associated with higher 2WW-referrals for all-cancers, as were practices in Northwest England and those with higher scores for patients feeling involved in care decisions. Conversely, practices with a higher frequency of seeing a preferred-GP were predictive of fewer all-cancer 2WW-referrals. Whilst practices with a higher proportion of current smokers and Asian and Black ethnicity patients predicted fewer all-cancer 2WW-referrals, these associations were strongest for skin cancer, and for breast cancer (except for Black ethnicity). Higher socioeconomic deprivation predicted lower 2WW-referrals for lung cancer only. This study analyses factors influencing 2WW-referral-rates and highlights potential inequalities. This work identifies priority populations, including smokers and Asian and Black ethnicity patients, who may benefit from interventions to increase primary care access. Shared-decision-making may be an underexplored resource for increasing all-cancer 2WW-referral-rates.

The effect of workload on primary care doctors on referral rates and prescription patterns: evidence from English NHS.

This paper investigates the impact of workload pressure on primary care outcomes using a unique dataset from English general practices. Leveraging the absence of General Practitioner (GP) colleagues as an instrumental variable, we find that increased workload leads to an increase in prescription rates of antibiotics as well as in the share of assessment referrals. On the other hand, the quantity and frequency of psychotropics decreases. When there is an absence, workload is intensified mostly on GP partners, and the mode of consultation shifts toward remote interactions as a response to higher workload pressure. The effects are more pronounced for patients above 65years-old and those in Short-staffed practices. Our study sheds light on the intricate relationship between workload pressure and patient care decisions in primary care settings.

Long-term trends in English general practice consultation rates from 1995 to 2021: a retrospective analysis of two electronic health records databases

ObjectivesAlthough primary care is central to healthcare provision, inconsistent methods and data sources mean that relatively little is known about long-term trends in general practice consultation rates. We aimed to...

General practice characteristics associated with pay-for-performance in the UK: a systematic review.

The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), a pay-for-performance programme, has been the most widespread quality initiative in National Health Service (NHS) general practice since 2004. It has contributed between 25% and 8% of practices' income during this time, but concerns about its effect on equity have been raised. Understand which practice characteristics are associated with QOF performance. Systematic review, NHS general practice. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL+, Web-of-Science and grey literature were searched for studies examining the association between general practice characteristics and QOF performance. Twenty-two studies, published between 2006 and 2022, exploring the relationship between six population and 15 organisational characteristics and QOF measures were found. Most studies were cross-sectional, of English general practices, and used data from the early years of QOF. A negative association was frequently found between overall QOF performance and socioeconomic deprivation; proportion of registered patients>65; list size; mean general practitioner (GP) age; and Alternative Provider Medical Services contracts. Group practices (versus single-handed); more full-time-equivalent GPs; and being a training practice were frequently associated with better overall QOF performance. The associations of most other characteristics with performance were inconsistent. Associations with characteristics both within and outside practices' control were identified. Pay-for-performance instruments may systematically disadvantage practices serving those at greatest risk of ill-health, such as older and more deprived populations. Given the cross-sectional design of many studies and focus on the early years of QOF, more up-to-date evidence is needed to understand if and why these relationships persist.

Clinical decision making and risk appraisal using electronic risk assessment tools (eRATs) for cancer diagnosis: A qualitative study of GP experiences.

Electronic Risk Assessment Tools (eRATs) are intended to improve early primary care cancer diagnosis. eRATs which interrupt a consultation to suggest a possibility of a cancer diagnosis, could impact clinical appraisal and the experience of the consultation. This study explores this issue using data collected within the context of the ERICA trial. To explore experiences of General Practitioners (GPs) who used the ERICA eRATs, and how the tool impacted their perception of risk and diagnostic thinking, and communication of this to patients. Qualitative interviews with GPs from English General Practices undertaking the ERICA trial. Participants were purposefully sampled from practices participating in the intervention arm of the ERICA trial. 18 GPs undertook semi-structured interviews via MS Teams. Thematic Analysis was used to explore their perspectives the impact of eRATs on consultations, diagnostic thinking related to cancer and other conditions, and how this information is communicated to patients. Three themes were developed: 1) eRATs were perceived as "Additional Armour", offering a layer of protection against missing a cancer diagnosis, the defence coming at a cost of anxiety and complexity of consultation; 2) eRATs were seen as another actor in the consultation, separate from clinician and patient, and challenging GP autonomy; and 3) GPs were conflicted about whether the numerical eRAT outputs were helpful when communicating with patients. eRATs are appreciated as a defence against missing a cancer diagnosis. This defence comes at a cost and challenges GP's freedom in communication and decision making.

A flexible, calibrated transformer-based risk model for prediction of clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure; an open cohort study using linked UK EHR

Abstract Background Numerous risk scores, both uni- and multi-variable, have been developed to conduct prognostication for a range of clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients [1,2]. However, these models provide only modest discrimination and often depend on complex test data (e.g., ejection fraction) collected outside of routine clinical care [2]. Furthermore, transparency in reporting of key individual-level metrics (e.g., precision, recall) is notably lacking. Purpose We developed and validated a novel deep learning model, the second version of the Transformer-based Risk assessment survival model (TRisk2), for 36-month prediction of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular-related mortality, fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, and renal outcomes in patients with HF using routine, linked UK electronic health records (EHR) data. Methods An open cohort of 405 thousand patients with HF between 40 and 90 years of age was identified using linked EHR from 1,063 and 355 English general practices, which were used for TRisk2 model development and external validation, respectively. Comparison was conducted against MAGGIC [2], modified for use on routine linked EHR. Additional analyses compared discriminatory performance in other age groups, by sex, and by baseline disease. All analyses were repeated for prediction of cardiovascular-related mortality, fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, and renal outcomes. Results TRisk2 demonstrated superior discrimination with Concordance index (C-index) of 0.828; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.824 to 0.832 for all-cause mortality prediction outperforming MAGGIC. The proposed model’s performance was found to be stable across stratified analyses by sex, age, and baseline disease status. Both models were overall well-calibrated, and TRisk2 demonstrated greater net benefit than MAGGIC across reasonable decision boundaries in decision curve analyses. At exemplar risk threshold of 50% for 36-month prediction, TRisk2 outperformed MAGGIC by 0.08 for both, precision and recall and identified 10% more events. At the same threshold for 12-month prediction, TRisk2 outperformed MAGGIC by 0.14 and 0.26 precision and recall respectively and captured 70% more events. The well-calibrated TRisk2 similarly outperformed MAGGIC in prediction of cardiovascular-related mortality, fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, and renal outcomes. Conclusion Utilising solely routine EHR from primary and secondary care, TRisk2 enabled more accurate prediction than MAGGIC with 10-20% gain in C-index across the four outcome investigations. Integration of TRisk2 into routine clinical care could simultaneously eliminate the reliance of complex tests and improve prognostication of key clinical outcomes, thereby refining management of HF.Models' discrimination on four outcomes

Adoption of clinical pharmacist roles in primary care: longitudinal evidence from English general practice.

Over the past decade, the number of clinical pharmacists working within multidisciplinary teams in English general practices has expanded. To examine changes in quality of prescribing after the adoption of clinical pharmacist roles in English general practices. Longitudinal cohort study in English general practice. Two-way fixed-effects regression was used to compare differences in prescribing indicators in general practices with and without pharmacists between September 2015 and December 2019. Between September 2015 and December 2019, the proportion of practices employing a clinical pharmacist increased from 236/7623 (3.1%) to 1402/6836 (20.5%). Clinical pharmacist implementation resulted in statistically significant reductions in total costs of medicines per 1000 patients (-0.85%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.50% to -0.21%), the total number of opioid prescriptions per 1000 patients (-1.06%, 95% CI = -1.82% to -0.29%), and the average daily quantity of anxiolytics per 1000 patients (-1.26%, 95% CI = -2.40% to -0.12%). Clinical pharmacist implementation also resulted in reductions in the total number of prescriptions per 1000 patients (-0.58%, 95% CI = -1.30% to 0.13%) and the total number of antibiotic prescriptions per 1000 patients (-0.51%, 95% CI = -1.30% to 0.27%) that trended towards statistical significance. There were no statistically significant differences in the share of broad-spectrum versus narrow-spectrum antibiotics (0.02%, 95% CI = -0.07% to 0.11%) and the oral morphine equivalence of high-dose opioids (>120 mg per 24 h) per 1000 patients (1.19%, 95% CI = -0.46% to 2.85%). This analysis is limited by practice-level data but supports the hypothesis that clinical pharmacist implementation results in improvements in prescribing quality.

Experiences of using the Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) in English general practice: a qualitative study among key primary health and social care professionals, patients, and their relatives.

The Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) has been implemented in many areas of the UK. It is unclear how ReSPECT is used in primary and community care settings. To understand the extent to which relapse risk and prevention are discussed and managed in general practice. A qualitative interview and focus-group study across 13 general practices in three areas of England, between January and December 2022. We interviewed GPs, specialist nurses, patients and relatives, and senior care home staff. Focus groups were conducted with community nurses, paramedics, and home care workers. Questions focused on understanding experiences of, and engagement with, ReSPECT. We analysed data using thematic analysis and a coding framework drawn from normalisation process theory. Participants included n = 21 GPs, n = 5 specialist nurses, n = 9 patients, n = 7 relatives, n = 31 care home staff, n = 9 community nurses, n = 7 home care workers, and n = 2 paramedics. Participants supported ReSPECT, regarding it as a tool to facilitate person-centred care. GPs faced challenges in timing the introduction of ReSPECT and ensuring sufficient time to complete plans with patients. ReSPECT conversations worked best when there was a trusting relationship between the clinician and the patient (and their family). Anticipating future illness trajectories was difficult, yet plans were rarely reviewed. Interpreting recommendations in emergencies was challenging. The ReSPECT process has not translated as well as expected in the community setting. A revised approach is needed to address the challenges of implementation in this context.

Predictive value of abnormal blood tests for detecting cancer in primary care patients with nonspecific abdominal symptoms: A population-based cohort study of 477,870 patients in England.

Identifying patients presenting with nonspecific abdominal symptoms who have underlying cancer is a challenge. Common blood tests are widely used to investigate these symptoms in primary care, but their predictive value for detecting cancer in this context is unknown. We quantify the predictive value of 19 abnormal blood test results for detecting underlying cancer in patients presenting with 2 nonspecific abdominal symptoms. Using data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) linked to the National Cancer Registry, Hospital Episode Statistics and Index of Multiple Deprivation, we conducted a population-based cohort study of patients aged ≥30 presenting to English general practice with abdominal pain or bloating between January 2007 and October 2016. Positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), sensitivity, and specificity for cancer diagnosis (overall and by cancer site) were calculated for 19 abnormal blood test results co-occurring in primary care within 3 months of abdominal pain or bloating presentations. A total of 9,427/425,549 (2.2%) patients with abdominal pain and 1,148/52,321 (2.2%) with abdominal bloating were diagnosed with cancer within 12 months post-presentation. For both symptoms, in both males and females aged ≥60, the PPV for cancer exceeded the 3% risk threshold used by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for recommending urgent specialist cancer referral. Concurrent blood tests were performed in two thirds of all patients (64% with abdominal pain and 70% with bloating). In patients aged 30 to 59, several blood abnormalities updated a patient's cancer risk to above the 3% threshold: For example, in females aged 50 to 59 with abdominal bloating, pre-blood test cancer risk of 1.6% increased to: 10% with raised ferritin, 9% with low albumin, 8% with raised platelets, 6% with raised inflammatory markers, and 4% with anaemia. Compared to risk assessment solely based on presenting symptom, age and sex, for every 1,000 patients with abdominal bloating, assessment incorporating information from blood test results would result in 63 additional urgent suspected cancer referrals and would identify 3 extra cancer patients through this route (a 16% relative increase in cancer diagnosis yield). Study limitations include reliance on completeness of coding of symptoms in primary care records and possible variation in PPVs if extrapolated to healthcare settings with higher or lower rates of blood test use. In patients consulting with nonspecific abdominal symptoms, the assessment of cancer risk based on symptoms, age and sex alone can be substantially enhanced by considering additional information from common blood test results. Male and female patients aged ≥60 presenting to primary care with abdominal pain or bloating warrant consideration for urgent cancer referral or investigation. Further cancer assessment should also be considered in patients aged 30 to 59 with concurrent blood test abnormalities. This approach can detect additional patients with underlying cancer through expedited referral routes and can guide decisions on specialist referrals and investigation strategies for different cancer sites.

The Use of Online Consultation Systems and Patient Experience of Primary Care: Cross-Sectional Analysis Using the General Practice Patient Survey.

NHS England encourages the use of online consultation (OC) systems alongside traditional access methods for patients to contact their general practice online and for practices to manage workflow. Access is a key driver of patients' primary care experience. The use of online technology and patient experience vary by sociodemographic characteristics. This study aims to assess the association between OC system use and patient experience of primary care in English general practice and how that varies by OC system model and practice sociodemographic characteristics (rurality, deprivation, age, and ethnicity). We categorized practices as "low-use" or "high-use" according to the volume of patient-initiated contacts made via the OC system. We considered practices using one of 2 OC systems with distinct designs and implementation models-shorter "free text" input with an embedded single workflow OC system (FT practices) and longer "mixed text" input with variation in implemented workflow OC system (MT practices). We used 2022 General Practice Patient Survey data to capture 4 dimensions of patient experience-overall experience, experience of making an appointment, continuity of care, and use of self-care before making an appointment. We used logistic regression at the practice level to explore the association between OC system use and patient experience, including interaction terms to assess sociodemographic variation. We included 287,194 responses from 2423 MT and 170 FT practices. The proportions of patients reporting positive experiences at MT and FT practices were similar or better than practices nationally, except at high-use MT practices. At high-use MT practices, patients were 19.8% (odds ratio [OR] 0.802, 95% CI 0.782-0.823) less likely to report a good overall experience; 24.5% (OR 0.755, 95% CI 0.738-0.773) less likely to report a good experience of making an appointment; and 18.9% (OR 0.811, 95% CI 0.792-0.83) less likely to see their preferred general practitioner; but 27.8% (OR 1.278, 95% CI 1.249-1.308) more likely to use self-care, compared with low-use MT practices. Opposite trends were seen at FT practices. Sociodemographic inequalities in patient experience were generally lower at high-use than low-use practices; for example, gaps in overall experience between practices with the most and fewest White patients decreased by 2.7 percentage points at MT practices and 6.4 percentage points at FT practices. Trends suggested greater improvements in experience for traditionally underserved groups-patients from urban and deprived areas, younger patients, and non-White patients. An OC system with shorter free text input and an integrated single workflow can enhance patient experience and reduce sociodemographic inequalities. Variation in patient experience between practices with different sociodemographic characteristics and OC systems underscores the importance of tailored design and implementation. Generalizing results across different OC systems is difficult due to variations in how they are integrated into practice workflows and communicated to patients.

Qualitative evaluation of a molecular point-of-care testing study for influenza in UK primary care.

Influenza contributes to the surge in winter infections and the consequent winter pressures on the health service. Molecular point-of-care testing (POCT) for influenza may improve patient management by providing rapid and accurate clinical diagnosis to inform the timely initiation of antiviral therapy and reduce unnecessary admissions and antibiotics use. To explore factors that influence the adoption or non-adoption of POCT in English general practices and provide insights to enable its integration into routine practice workflows. A qualitative implementation evaluation was conducted in 10 general practices within the English national sentinel network (Oxford RCGP Research and Surveillance Centre), from April-July 2023. Using the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework, data collection and analysis were conducted across 10 practices. We made ethnographic observations of the POCT workflow and surveyed the practice staff for their perspectives on POCT implementation. Data were analysed using a mix of descriptive statistics, graphical modelling techniques, and framework analysis. Ethnographic observations identified the following two modes of POCT integration into practice workflow: (1) clinician POCT workflow, which typically involved batch testing owing to time constraints; and (2) research nurse or healthcare assistant POCT workflow, which was characterised by immediate testing of individual patients. Survey data indicated that most primary care staff considered the POCT training offered was sufficient and these practices were ready for change. Some participants agreed that there was the capacity and resources to integrate POCT into workflows. It was uncertain as to whether POCT required changes to organisational routines and processes. General practices should demonstrate flexibility in the workflow and workforce they deploy to integrate POCT into routine clinical workflow.

Investigating Patient Use and Experience of Online Appointment Booking in Primary Care: Mixed Methods Study.

Online appointment booking is a commonly used tool in several industries. There is limited evidence about the benefits and challenges of using online appointment booking in health care settings. Potential benefits include convenience and the ability to track appointments, although some groups of patients may find it harder to engage with online appointment booking. We sought to understand how patients in England used and experienced online appointment booking. This study aims to describe and compare the characteristics of patients in relation to their use of online appointment booking in general practice and investigate patients' views regarding online appointment booking arrangements. This was a mixed methods study set in English general practice comprising a retrospective analysis of the General Practice Patient Survey (GPPS) and semistructured interviews with patients. Data used in the retrospective analysis comprised responses to the 2018 and 2019 GPPS analyzed using mixed-effects logistic regression. Semistructured interviews with purposively sampled patients from 11 general practices in England explored experiences of and views on online appointment booking. Framework analysis was used to allow for comparison with the findings of the retrospective analysis. The retrospective analysis included 1,327,693 GPPS responders (2018-2019 combined). We conducted 43 interviews with patients with a variety of experiences and awareness of online appointment booking; of these 43 patients, 6 (14%) were from ethnic minority groups. In the retrospective analysis, more patients were aware that online appointment booking was available (581,224/1,288,341, 45.11%) than had experience using it (203,184/1,301,694, 15.61%). There were deprivation gradients for awareness and use and a substantial decline in both awareness and use in patients aged >75 years. For interview participants, age and life stage were factors influencing experiences and perceptions, working patients valued convenience, and older patients preferred to use the telephone. Patients with long-term conditions were more aware of (odds ratio [OR] 1.43, 95% CI 1.41-1.44) and more likely to use (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.63-1.67) online appointment booking. Interview participants with long-term conditions described online appointment booking as useful for routine nonurgent appointments. Patients in deprived areas were clustered in practices with low awareness and use of online appointment booking among GPPS respondents (OR for use 0.65, 95% CI 0.64-0.67). Other key findings included the influence of the availability of appointments online and differences in the registration process for accessing online booking. Whether and how patients engage with online appointment booking is influenced by the practice with which they are registered, whether they live with long-term conditions, and their deprivation status. These factors should be considered in designing and implementing online appointment booking and have implications for patient engagement with the wider range of online services offered in general practice.

The changing shape of English general practice: a retrospective longitudinal study using national datasets describing trends in organisational structure, workforce and recorded appointments

ObjectiveTo describe trends in the organisational structure, workforce and recorded appointments by role in English general practice.DesignRetrospective longitudinal study.SettingEnglish general practice.Data sources and participantsNHS England, Office for Health Improvement and...

Relationship between research activity and the performance of English general practices: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

Research activity usually improves outcomes by being translated into practice; however, there is developing evidence that research activity itself may improve the overall performance of healthcare organisations. Evidence that these relationships represent a causal impact of research activity is, however, less clear. Additionally, the bulk of the existing evidence relates to hospital settings, and it is not known if those relationships would also be found in general practice, where most patient contacts occur. To test 1) whether there are significant relationships between research activity in general practice and organisational performance; and 2) whether those relationships are plausibly causal. National data were analysed between 2008 and 2019, using cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses on general practices in England. Cross-sectional, panel, and instrumental variable analyses were employed to explore relationships between research activity (including measures from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Clinical Research Network and the Royal College of General Practitioners) and practice performance (including clinical quality of care, patient-reported experience of care, prescribing quality, and hospital admissions). In cross-sectional analyses, different measures of research activity were positively associated with several measures of practice performance, but most consistently with clinical quality of care and accident and emergency attendances. The associations were generally modest in magnitude; however, longitudinal analyses did not support a reliable causal relationship. Similar to findings from hospital settings, research activity in general practice is associated with practice performance. There is less evidence that research is causing those improvements, although this may reflect the limited level of research activity in most practices. No negative impacts were identified, suggesting that research activity is a potential marker of quality and something that high-quality practices can deliver alongside their core responsibilities.

Ongoing Decline in Continuity With GPs in English General Practices: A Longitudinal Study Across the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Relationship continuity of care has declined across English primary health care, with cross-sectional and longitudinal variations between general practices predicted by population and service factors. We aimed to describe cross-sectional and longitudinal variations across the COVID-19 pandemic and determine whether practice factors predicted the variations. We conducted a longitudinal, ecological study of English general practices during 2018-2022 with continuity data, excluding practices with fewer than 750 patients or National Health Service (NHS) payments exceeding £500 per patient. Variables were derived from published data. The continuity measure was the product of weighted responses to 2 General Practice Patient Survey questions. In a multilevel mixed-effects model, the fixed effects were 11 variables' interactions with time: baseline continuity, NHS region, deprivation, location, percentage White ethnicity, list size, general practitioner and nurse numbers, contract type, NHS payments per patient, and percentage of patients seen on the same day as booking. The random effects were practices. Main analyses were based on 6,010 practices (out of 7,190 active practices). During 2018-2022, mean continuity in these practices declined (from 29.3% to 19.0%) and the coefficient of variation across practices increased (from 48.1% to 63.6%). Both slopes were steepest between 2021 and 2022. Practices having more general practitioners and higher percentages of patients seen the same day had slower declines. Practices having higher baseline continuity, located in certain non-London regions, and having higher percentages of White patients had faster declines. The remaining variables were not predictors. Variables potentially associated with greater appointment availability predicted slower declines in continuity, with worsening declines and relative variability immediately after the COVID-19 lockdown, possibly reflecting surges in demand. To achieve better levels of continuity for those seeking it, practices can increase appointment availability within appointment systems that prioritize continuity.Annals Early Access article.

Practice list size, workforce composition and performance in English general practice: a latent profile analysis

BackgroundFollowing government calls for General Practices in England to work at scale, some practices have grown in size from traditionally small, General Practitioner (GP)-led organisations to large multidisciplinary enterprises. We assessed the effect of practice list size and workforce composition on practice performance in clinical outcomes and patient experience.MethodsWe linked five practice-level datasets in England to obtain a single dataset of practice workforce, list size, proportion of registered patients ≥ 65 years of age, female-male sex ratio, deprivation, rurality, GP contract type, patient experience of care, and Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and non-QOF clinical processes and outcomes. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to cluster general practices into groups based on practice list size and workforce composition. Bayesian Information Criterion, Akaike Information Criterion and deliberation within the research team were used to determine the most informative number of groups. One-way ANOVA was used to assess how groups differed on indicator variables and other variables of interest. Linear regression was used to assess the association between practice group and practice performance.ResultsA total of 6024 practices were available for class assignment. We determined that a 3-class grouping provided the most meaningful interpretation; 4494 (74.6%) were classified as ‘Small GP-reliant practices’, 1400 (23.2%) were labelled ‘Medium-size GP-led practices with a multidisciplinary team (MDT) input’ and 131 (2.2%) practices were named ‘Large multidisciplinary practices’. Small GP-reliant practices outperformed larger multidisciplinary practices on all patient-reported indicators except on confidence and trust where medium-size GP-led practices with MDT input appeared to do better. There was no difference in performance between small GP-reliant practices and larger multidisciplinary practices on QOF incentivised indicators except on asthma reviews where medium-size GP-led practices with MDT input performed worse than smaller GP-reliant practices and immunisation coverage where the same group performed better than smaller GP-reliant practices. For non-incentivised indicators, larger multidisciplinary practices had higher cancer detection rates than small GP-reliant practices.ConclusionSmall GP-reliant practices were found to provide better patient reported access, continuity of care, experience and satisfaction with care. Larger multidisciplinary practices appeared to have better cancer detection rates but had no effect on other clinical processes and outcomes. As England moves towards larger multidisciplinary practices efforts should be made to preserve good patient experience.

Foot and ankle problems in children and young people: a population-based cohort study

The aim of this research was to describe the epidemiology, presentation and healthcare use in primary care for foot and ankle problems in children and young people (CYP) across England. We undertook a population-based cohort study using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum database, a database of anonymised electronic health records from general practices across England. Data was accessed for all CYP aged 0–18 years presenting to their general practitioner between January 2015 and December 2021 with a foot and/or ankle problem. Consultation rates were calculated and used to estimate numbers of consultations in an average practice. Hierarchical Poisson regression estimated relative rates of consultations across sociodemographic groups and logistic regression evaluated factors associated with repeat consultations. A total of 416,137 patients had 687,753 foot and ankle events, of which the majority were categorised as “musculoskeletal” (34%) and “unspecified pain” (21%). Rates peaked at 601 consultations per 10,000 patient-years among males aged 10–14 years in 2018. An average practice might observe 132 (95% CI 110 to 155) consultations annually. Odds for repeat consultations were higher among those with pre-existing diagnoses including juvenile arthritis (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.48 to 2.03). Conclusions: Consultations for foot and ankle problems were high among CYP, particularly males aged 10 to 14 years. These data can inform service provision to ensure CYP access appropriate health professionals for accurate diagnosis and treatment.What is Known:• Foot and ankle problems can have considerable impact on health-related quality of life in children and young people (CYP).• There is limited data describing the nature and frequency of foot and ankle problems in CYP.What is New:• Foot and ankle consultations were higher in English general practice among CYP aged 10 to 14 years compared to other age groups, and higher among males compared to females.• The high proportion of unspecified diagnoses and repeat consultations suggests there is need for greater integration between general practice and allied health professionals in community-based healthcare settings.

P187 Fatigue in people with polymyalgia rheumatica: a key unmet need?

Abstract Background/Aims Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is common in older adults, causing severe pain and stiffness, particularly in the shoulder and hip girdles. Glucocorticoids treatment generally focusses on reducing pain and stiffness, but there are other aspects to quality of life. Fatigue is a well-recognised symptom in other inflammatory rheumatological conditions and has been highlighted by people with PMR as a neglected symptom. Methods People with newly diagnosed PMR in English general practice (2012-2014, n = 652) were recruited to a postally-administered cohort study. Surveys included items relating to PMR, general health and well-being. The FACIT-Fatigue questionnaire was included in the survey at diagnosis, 1, 12, 24 and (mean) 61 months follow-ups. Latent class growth analysis was used to define trajectories, based on FACIT-Fatigue scores over time. Trajectories were characterised and compared at baseline and over time. Results 244 people participated at 24 months and 197 at 61 months. Individuals were allocated to one of five fatigue trajectories. Each represented a different average level of fatigue at diagnosis that remained stable over time (Table). From least to most fatigued, trajectory sizes were 111, 122, 211, 133 and 75. Two thirds of the cohort (the three “worst” trajectories) were, on average, more fatigued than reported in the general population. Worse fatigue trajectory was associated with female sex, higher pain and stiffness, higher levels of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and poorer physical function at baseline and throughout. Conclusion Fatigue is common in inflammatory conditions, but under-recognised in PMR. Fatigue severity at the time of diagnosis appears indicative of fatigue levels up to five years later and is associated with a broad range of health constructs at diagnosis and later. This represents an unmet need in a sizable proportion of those with PMR, who may need more help to manage their condition and allow them to return to full function. These findings also present a potential avenue for early identification of those with a poor prognosis related to their PMR. Disclosure S. Muller: None. J. Belcher: None. S. Hider: None. T. Helliwell: None. C.D. Mallen: None.

P185 Anatomical patterns of pain in primary care patients with polymyalgia rheumatica compared to the general population

Abstract Background/Aims Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is common in older adults, causing severe pain and stiffness, particularly in the shoulder and hip girdles. A tapered course of glucocorticoids is recommended, but not always straightforward, with frequent symptom recurrence. Reasons are unclear, but partial masking of painful comorbidities (e.g., osteoarthritis) may play a part. Methods 652 people with incident PMR were recruited from English general practice (2012-2014) to a postal survey study (questionnaires at diagnosis, 1, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, [mean] 61 months). Surveys included a body manikin (front and back views). Participants were asked to shade anywhere they experienced pain >1 day in the last month. 44 mutually exclusive areas were defined as painful or not. For comparison, an age-gender matched random sample of 652 people was selected from a general population survey in North Staffordshire that used the same manikins. Pain prevalence was compared between the 2 studies. Results In the PMR study, surveys were completed by 244 participants at 24 months and 197 at 61 months. Pain was reported in a mean of 17.1 areas at diagnosis (Table). Bilateral shoulder and hip pain were present in the majority at diagnosis (shoulder 81%; hips 59%) and in around a third and a fifth of patients respectively throughout the study. The prevalence of bilateral shoulder and hip pain remained higher than in the general population sample, while unilateral pain in these areas was less common. Bilateral hand (27%) and knee (45%) pain were also common at diagnosis. After 1 month, the mean number of pain areas was 7 - similar to the general population. However, prevalence of bilateral shoulder and hip pain remained higher than the general population throughout follow-up. Unilateral hip and knee pain were persistently less common in those with PMR, whilst unilateral hip pain was more common. Conclusion Bilateral pain was reported more commonly across the disease course in people with PMR than the general population. Causes of pain cannot be accurately attributed, but are likely multifactorial, including PMR disease activity, treatment and painful comorbidities. However, the persistence of bilateral pain suggests untreated PMR symptoms, requiring further research. Disclosure N. Hammad: None. R. Partington: None. S. Hider: None. H. Butt: None. T. Helliwell: None. C. Mallen: None. S. Muller: None.