ArticleBJGP open2019
A consultation-level intervention to improve care of frequently attending patients: a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial.
Article in BJGP open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Effect of BATHE interview technique on patient satisfaction in an ambulatory family medicine centre in South India.Family medicine and community health · 2020Trial
- Acceptability of the BATHE technique amongst GPs and frequently attending patients in primary care: a nested qualitative study.BMC family practice · 2019Trial
- Continuity of care in UK primary care: a scoping review of measures, challenges, and future interventions.Primary health care research & development · 2026Article
- Empathy in patient-clinician interactions when using telecommunication: A rapid review of the evidence.PEC innovation · 2022Review
- Continuity of care as a predictor of ongoing frequent attendance in primary care: a retrospective cohort study.BJGP open · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundFrequent attenders (FAs) to primary care receive considerable NHS resources without necessarily gaining benefit, and may even be harmed.
aimTo assess the feasibility of a consultation-level intervention to improve care and address service use of FAs. DESIGN &
settingA cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial was undertaken. The study used a mixed-methods process evaluation and took place in six practices in England.
methodAll practices screened the top 3% of all attending patients over the previous 12 months for eligibility. Following randomisation, intervention patients were matched with named GPs, trained to use the Background, Affect, Trouble, Handling, Empathy (BATHE) technique during consultations. Telephone consultations were encouraged. Feasibility outcomes assessed were recruitment, retention, data collection and completeness, implementation fidelity, and acceptability.
resultsA total of 599/1328 (45.1%) FAs were eligible. Four practices were randomised to the intervention (
conclusionIt was feasible to identify FAs and collect trial data. GPs were keen to engage and there was evidence that the BATHE technique was taken into practice. Optimising training is likely to improve fidelity. The intervention was low cost and low risk.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.