How to improve communication from GPs to hospital specialists?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How to improve communication from GPs to hospital specialists at the point of referrals?
IRAS ID
325193
Contact name
Shan He
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 3 days
Research summary
A recent study by the James Lind Alliance Priority-Setting Partnership identified communication issues between primary and secondary care systems as the third most important unanswered research question in improving patient safety. Most research exploring the communication processes across the primary-secondary care interface concentrates on the discharge processes from hospital to community rather than the reverse, i.e., initial GP referrals. Regular teleconferences bringing together GPs working at the Granta Primary Care Network (PCN) and Consultant Neurologist or Psychiatrist from secondary care services in Cambridgeshire (the “Granta Model”) have already been initiated. This study will evaluate the Granta Model as a way of overcoming the communication barriers from GPs to hospital specialists during patient referrals.
Using a combination of qualitative interviews, focus group discussions, and observation of teleconferences, this qualitative study will explore the impact of these direct means of communication between clinicians across the primary-secondary care interface on the relationship between GPs and hospital specialists, on clinician satisfaction, clinician’s workload, patient journeys; distil the advantages and disadvantages of the Granta model; and identify unintended consequences. There will be a specific focus on factors that facilitate or hinder this model of care.
We will conduct interviews with clinicians and other stakeholders as well as focus group discussions with Granta staff. This study will be conducted within the five sites of the Granta PCN or remotely via zoom or MS teams or by telephone. We will recruit 20-30 participants in total across the interviews and focus groups.
We will also observe the interactions between GPs and the Consultant Neurologist or Psychiatrist during their teleconferences. These observations will help put the interview data into their social and clinical context and provide an overview of how the GPs and consultants work together, and what helps or hinders them in their collaboration efforts.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NE/0111
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion