Different primary care for different patients?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Different primary care for different patients – how should we balance continuity and urgent access?
IRAS ID
340303
Contact name
Patrick Burch
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Previous research has shown that seeing the same doctor in a general practice is associated with a wide range of benefits for patients including less chance of patients being admitted to hospital or dying. Some research shows that certain types of patients (such as those with lots of medical problems) may get more benefit from seeing the same doctor than others. General practices find it hard to provide appointments for patients with the same doctor without making patients wait for a longer time. The study aims to understand how we can best balance the benefits of seeing the same doctor repeatedly and getting a quick appointment.
Research questions
1. Do some patients benefit more from seeing the same doctor?
2. Has a system where some patients see the same doctor and others do not been tried anywhere before?
3. What do patients and doctors think about having a system where some patients see the same doctor and others do not?Design and Methods
Phase 1: To answer question 1, we will search for other research that has been done and analyse it to. To answer question 2, we will search for information about what different systems of seeing a doctor have been tried.
Phase 2: To answer research question 3 we will speak to patients using focus groups (all UK adult patients eligible) and doctors using interviews about having a system where some patients see the same doctor and others do not. We will use what we have learnt from phase 1 of the research to help shape the questions we will ask.The study will last 12 months and is funded by the NIHR SPCR. The findings will be presented in academic journals, conferences and shared with health policymakers.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0175
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jun 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion