Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41993010›Full record

ArticlePrimary health care research & development2026

Assessing the feasibility of a pre-triage photo and questionnaire protocol in GP triage: a quality improvement study.

Karan Gupta, Caroline Thurston, Harvey McGarry, Angela Bennett

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Primary health care research & development, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors.

Karan Guptahttps://ror.org/013meh722University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, UK.ORCID 0009-0000-1653-1808
Caroline Thurstonhttps://ror.org/013meh722University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, UK.
Harvey McGarryhttps://ror.org/013meh722University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, UK.
Angela Bennetthttps://ror.org/013meh722University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEfficient triage in general practice is critical to optimize appointment allocation and minimize patient delays. Delays in receiving clinical information, such as photographs or symptom questionnaires, lead to unnecessary consultations and inefficiencies. This study evaluated the feasibility and impact of a structured pre-triage protocol requesting photos and questionnaires for common conditions (skin, eye, tonsillitis, and urinary tract infections).

methodsA pre-post intervention quality improvement project was conducted in a UK general practice. Triage administrators were instructed to proactively request photographs for skin and eye complaints and symptom questionnaires for tonsillitis and UTIs at initial patient contact. Outcomes included process metrics (number of pre-triage requests, proportion of cases managed directly by the triage GP) and subjective measures of ease, speed, satisfaction, and confidence.

resultsThe protocol increased photo requests for skin (mean increase 4.0/session, Cohen's

conclusionA structured pre-triage protocol is feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective in enhancing triage efficiency, particularly for visually assessable conditions like skin and eye presentations. By enabling earlier access to essential information, such protocols may reduce unnecessary consultations, improve workflow, and support clinician confidence.

Indexed as

General PracticePhotographyQuality ImprovementTriageFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansSurveys and QuestionnairesUnited Kingdomefficiencygeneral practicepatient managementphoto requestsquality improvementtriage

Identifiers

PMID41993010
PMCPMC13125267

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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.