Why do people with long-term health needs see more than one GP?: a qualitative study
David Cosgriff
A B C , Jenny Reath B and Penelope Abbott B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Osana Cremorne, 320 Military Road, Cremorne, NSW 2090, Australia.
B Department of General Practice, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: David_Cosgriff@hotmail.com
Australian Journal of Primary Health 26(6) 514-519 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY20179
Submitted: 28 July 2020 Accepted: 9 October 2020 Published: 9 December 2020
Abstract
This study aimed to understand what barriers exist or choices are made by patients who access regular care for long-term health issues from multiple GPs. This was a qualitative interview study in Western Sydney community settings consisting of semi-structured interviews and inductive thematic analysis. Twenty participants who accessed GP care were interviewed. Sixteen had seen multiple GPs over the previous twelve months and all had seen multiple GPs over preceding years. Participants valued interpersonal continuity of care. Nevertheless, they made decisions to meet their needs by seeing multiple GPs. They considered waiting times, preference for an individual GP based on their consultation style or perception of their particular area of expertise, experiences with reception staff and the practice model of care. Participants were aware that interpersonal continuity of care was considered important by GPs and were reticent to be seen as ‘doctor shoppers’. Therefore, they did not usually disclose that they saw multiple doctors and were unlikely to discuss continuity of care with a GP. Participants made considered choices about health care. Despite general practice promoting interpersonal continuity of care, it is not always achievable or desired by patients. GPs can promote care continuity through supportive practice models and dialogue about when continuity is desirable.
Keywords: continuity of patient care, delivery of health care, patient-centred care, primary health care.
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