General practitioner identification and retention for people with spinal cord damage: establishing factors to inform a general practitioner satisfaction measure
Ali Lakhani A B F , David P. Watling B , Ross Duncan B C , Peter Grimbeek D , Peter Harre C , Jos Stocker C and Sanjoti Parekh B EA The School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, 360 Collins Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
B The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Logan Campus, University Drive, Meadowbrook, Qld 4131, Australia.
C Spinal Life Australia, 109 Logan Road, Woolloongabba, Qld 4102, Australia.
D Upper Brookfield, Brisbane, Qld 4069, Australia.
E Abt Associates, PO Box 1874 Milton Road, Qld 4064, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: a.lakhani@latrobe.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 26(3) 234-239 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY20017
Submitted: 30 January 2020 Accepted: 26 March 2020 Published: 12 June 2020
Abstract
People with spinal cord damage (SCD) report a high level of GP use. There is a dearth of research investigating factors that contribute to GP identification and retention for people with SCD. Furthermore, a GP satisfaction measure developed specifically for people with SCD is non-existent. This preliminary study sought to identify factors contributing to GP identification and retention. A total of 266 people with SCD primarily based in Queensland, Australia, completed a cross-sectional survey that aimed to fill these knowledge gaps. Descriptive statistics and correlational analyses clarified the factors contributing to GP identification and GP retention respectively. An exploratory factor analysis utilising the principal components analysis method clarified a set of items that could underpin key domains for a SCD-specific GP satisfaction measure. The findings confirm that knowledge about SCD, physically accessible services, and trust are seminal considerations aligned with GP identification and retention for people with SCD.
Additional keywords: accessibility, health services, patient-centred care, primary health care, quality of health care.
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