Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40119278›Full record

SynthesisBMC primary care2025

Uptake of patient enrolment in primary care and associated factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jialing Lin, Shona Bates, Luke N Allen, Michael Wright, Limin Mao, Rafal Chomik, Chris Dietz, Michael Kidd

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC primary care, 2025. 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.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
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

8 authors.

Jialing LinInternational Centre for Future Health Systems, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. jialing.lin@unsw.edu.au.
Shona BatesInternational Centre for Future Health Systems, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Luke N AllenInternational Centre for Future Health Systems, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Michael WrightInternational Centre for Future Health Systems, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Limin MaoInternational Centre for Future Health Systems, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Rafal ChomikInternational Centre for Future Health Systems, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Chris DietzInternational Centre for Future Health Systems, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Michael KiddInternational Centre for Future Health Systems, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatient enrolment in primary care refers to the formal process of registering patients with a specific primary care provider, team, or practice. This approach is often expected to enhance continuity and coordination of care. However, limited information exists on the uptake of patient enrolment and its associated characteristics. This review aimed to estimate the uptake of patient enrolment in primary care and examine factors associated with decisions around enrolment.

methodsEight electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Register of Systematic Reviews, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PAIS, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched for peer-reviewed articles published from January 2014 to July 2024. Findings from included studies were extracted and synthesised, with uptake estimated through meta-analysis and factors associated with enrolment summarised narratively. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42024597078.

resultsTen studies across nine publications were included. Of these, eight studies with 27,919,216 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed a pooled patient enrolment uptake rate of 71.4% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 13.6-97.5%). There was no significant difference in enrolment rates between population-wide and program-based enrolment (72.4% vs. 73.5%; p = 0.980). Several associated factors were identified in three publications. Women showed higher enrolment rates than men (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.07-1.08), while recently arrived immigrants in a country had lower enrolment rates than the established population (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.40-0.41). Patients living in small urban/suburban/rural areas had higher enrolment rates than those in large urban/metropolitan regions (aORs: 1.17-2.18). Higher socioeconomic level was associated with increased rates of enrolment. Patients with some specific chronic health conditions, such as those with diagnosed mental illness or substance use disorders, had lower enrolment rates.

conclusionsThe findings reveal that more than two-thirds of patients were enrolled with a primary care provider or practice; enrolment was influenced by demographic, geographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors. Lower enrolment among men, recent immigrants, individuals living in large urban/metropolitan areas, lower socioeconomic groups, and those with certain health conditions may indicate potential barriers to health service access and opportunities for enrolment. Addressing these disparities is essential to promote equitable access and enhance opportunities for continuity and coordination of primary care.

Indexed as

Primary Health CareFemaleHumansMaleAssociated factorsMeta-analysisPatient enrolmentPrimary careSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40119278
PMCPMC11927268

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

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.