I-ACT Study - Improving access to primary care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving Primary care Access in Context and Theory (I-ACT trial): A theory informed trial using a realist perspective
IRAS ID
218535
Contact name
John Ford
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Previous research has highlighted that socio-economically disadvantaged older people in rural areas are at risk of poor access to primary care. We have spent two years understanding why this group may find it difficult to access primary care by undertaking a literature review, interviews with older people, focus groups with health professionals and an analysis of a large cohort study. Here we present a feasibility study of giving GP practice a support package to improve access to primary care for this group.
The aim of this feasibility study is to test the design and collect the necessary information needed to inform a definitive trial.
The design will be a cluster randomised controlled trial. We will compare giving GP practices support to develop their own services to improve primary care access, with usual care over six months in rural socio-economically disadvantaged older people. Intervention practices will be receive a Support Manual, four development meetings and £1500 to develop their service. Service changes should aim to 1) improve the ease of the booking system and 2) help overcome transport barriers.
Four rural GP practices will be recruited. Three practices will then be randomised to the intervention arm and one to the control arm. During the first two months, two three-hour practice observations will take place. In the final two months there will be two group interviews with staff from each practice.
In order to obtain information about the effectiveness of the intervention data will be collected from a random sample of ten patients from each practice following informed consent being obtained. Each time the patient tries to book an appointment or attends the surgery they will asked to complete a questionnaire. Semi-structured interviews will also be undertaken with two of the patients recruited from each practice.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NE/0424
Date of REC Opinion
19 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion