Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39215300›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2024

Factors associated with patients' experience of accessibility to general practice: results from a national survey in Norway.

Elma Jelin, Oyvind Bjertnaes, Rebecka Maria Norman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Elma JelinNorwegian Institute of Public Health, Skoyen, PO Box 222, Oslo, 0213, Norway. elma.jelin@fhi.no.
Oyvind BjertnaesNorwegian Institute of Public Health, Skoyen, PO Box 222, Oslo, 0213, Norway.
Rebecka Maria NormanNorwegian Institute of Public Health, Skoyen, PO Box 222, Oslo, 0213, Norway.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study aimed to explore the influence of patient-, general practitioners (GP)-, and GP practice-level predictor variables on patient-experienced accessibility to GPs and GP practices. Additionally, we aimed to enhance our understanding of patient-experienced accessibility by analysing the free-text comments from patients who reported lowest accessibility scores to GPs and GP practices.

methodsWe performed a secondary analysis of data from a 2021-2022 national Norwegian survey on patient experiences with their GP and GP practice. We identified seven accessibility-related items including experience and acceptance of regular waiting time and for urgent appointments, time spent with the GP, waiting time in the wating-room, and getting in touch with the GP practice by telephone. A composite accessibility score was computed. Predictor variables consisted of patient's self-reported characteristics, as well as background data about the GP and GP practice from National GP registry. The analysis included multiple linear regression of the composite accessibility score and seven accessibility items. Finally, a qualitative analysis was conducted of free-text survey comments among patients that had a score of 0 (unfavourable) on all the seven accessibility items.

resultsThe key factor for patient-experienced accessibility to general practice was seeing their own GP, showing a statistically significant positive correlation (p<0.001) across all seven accessibility items and the composite accessibility score in regression analyses. Other associations with positive experience included better self-reported health, and at the GP-level, a specialization in general medicine. Conversely, a negative experience was associated with longer time since the last GP consultation, female patients, and a higher number of GPs at the practice. Qualitative data confirmed accessibility challenges, detailing quantitative scores and highlighted that low accessibility scores were related to difficulties in seeing one's own GP.

conclusionsThis study highlights the importance of continuity between patient and their GP in improving patients' experiences of accessibility to general practice. Several GP and GP practice-level factors were related to patient-reported accessibility. These results can be used to inform initiatives aimed at improving accessibility to general practice.

Indexed as

General PracticeHealth Services AccessibilityAdolescentAdultAgedFemaleGeneral PractitionersHumansMaleMiddle AgedNorwayPatient SatisfactionSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAccessibility of healthcare servicesAccess to health careContinuityGeneral practitionerPatient experiencePatient-reported experience measures

Identifiers

PMID39215300
PMCPMC11365193

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Registered trials

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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.