Patient Acceptability of the First Contact Practitioner Role
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Patient Acceptability of the First Contact Practitioner (FCP) Role for Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSKDs) in Primary Care: A Realist Evaluation.
IRAS ID
239857
Contact name
Nicola Walsh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of the West of England
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Patient Acceptability of the First Contact Practitioner Role
This study will evaluate the patient acceptability of physiotherapists in General Practice surgeries as a First
Contact Practitioner (FCP). There is an increasing demand on General Practice; consequently, patients are waiting longer to see the right professional. In order to meet demand, UK government policy has acknowledged new allied health professional roles. Up to 30% of General Practitioner (GP) consultations are due to muscle and joint problems; as experts in these conditions, physiotherapists practicing within GP surgeries could provide a solution.
This qualitative study will involve two General Practices, and will consist of two phases.
Phase one will involve semi-structured interviews of patients (n=16) and will answer the questions: what is the patient understanding of the First Contact Practitioner (FCP) role before/ after contact; what aspects of the FCP model are acceptable/ unacceptable to patients? Phase two will involve semi-structured interviews of GPs, FCPs, receptionists, Practice Managers (n=10). This Phase will answer the question: what do they perceive as the patient acceptability of the FCP role in Primary Care?
The study is taking a Realist Evaluation (RE) design. A RE creates a theory of what makes an intervention successful; specifically, the theory of what makes the FCP role acceptable to patients. The initial theories were shaped by a literature review and input from an expert supervisory team, a Patient Partner and two FCPs. These theories have informed the topic guides and will be tested in interviews. Analysis of the interviews will involve deductive theming based on the initial theories. The narrative will be framed around these hypotheses and how they are proved/ disproved by the data. The study aims to produce recommendations that can be easily implemented in General Practices on how to make the FCP role more acceptable to patients.REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0337
Date of REC Opinion
6 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion