HINEQ-GP v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding Health Inequalities in General Practice: A Qualitative Study
IRAS ID
352804
Contact name
Jesse Proudfoot
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Durham University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
SOC-2023-11-23T08_58_33-rlff42, Durham University Sociology IRB
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This research project will use a range of qualitative methods to develop frameworks for understanding, and addressing, health inequalities at St. Anthony’s Health Centre, a GP practice in Walker, a highly deprived area located in the east end of Newcastle upon Tyne.
The project will be organized into three phases:
1. Observational and interview methods will be used to explore the impact of socioeconomic deprivation on care trajectories and health outcomes across range of chronic conditions, such as persistent physical symptoms (PPS), mental ill health, and substance misuse. Existing research in primary care settings tends to privilege either patient (e.g. Ecks 2020) or clinician perspective (e.g. see Duncan, Duerden, & Payne 2017). The proposed project will use a range of approaches and frameworks to capture both perspectives, as well as their interaction, with a view to improving care and addressing inequalities.
2. This phase will explore the impact of a range of group interventions on health inequalities in Walker. The group interventions under investigation will include (1) existing group consultations provided by St. Anthony’s Health Centre; and (2) the development of new group interventions, including mindfulness and singing therapy - both of which have demonstrated efficacy in the management of PPS, mental ill health, and substance misuse (Goldberg et al. 2018; Daykin et al. 2017).
3. Study findings will feed into a study recommendation co-design workshop involving patients, clinicians, surgery support staff, surgery management, and researchers to:
Develop new recommendations for addressing the relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and health inequalities in primary care.
Identify, and suggest ways of overcoming, any social, medical, and institutional barriers to the implementation of these strategies.The project will leverage existing institutional arrangements between the sponsor organization, Durham University, and research site, St. Anthony’s Health Centre.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
25/WS/0167
Date of REC Opinion
17 Dec 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion