Measuring The Factors Associated with Patients’ Overall Experience with Their GP Practice in England

Abstract

Background: General practice in England has evolved to offer comprehensive health care to people in need, and to reduce health inequalities, there is a focus on people in lower socioeconomic groups. General practice has a strong emphasis on providing ongoing, community-focused healthcare outside hospital care. High-quality healthcare depends on a positive patient experience that includes patient participation and individualised care. Better experiences lead to higher adherence rates, better clinical results, and lower healthcare utilisation. Due to a staff shortage, an increase in workload, and financial challenges as well as COVID-19 and lockdowns in England, general practitioner (GP) practices in England are in crisis. The study highlights the experiences of patients in 2020–2021, the years when the COVID pandemic affected healthcare most strongly. Aim: To find and analyse variables that have the strongest association with patients’ overall experience with GP practices in England. Methodology: Using a cross-sectional approach, data was analysed from 6,316 GP practices in England during 2020–2021 in this study. The primary outcome variable was the overall patient experience. Results: It has been found that the strongest association with patients’ overall experience with GP practice is related to the following variables: trust and confidence in healthcare personnel, appointment scheduling experience, and frequent visits or conversations with preferred GP. Conclusion: Patient experience in GP practices in England is strongly predicted by confidence and trust in healthcare providers, receptionists’ helpfulness in making appointments, and continuity of care. The use of the cross-sectional design and self-reported data poses several limitations, such as the inability to prove causality and response bias.