Jarvis, S., Parslow, R.C., Hewitt, C. et al. (2 more authors) (2020) GPs’ role in caring for children and young people with life-limiting conditions: a retrospective cohort study. British Journal of General Practice, 70 (693). e221-e229. ISSN 0960-1643
Abstract
Background: GPs are rarely actively involved in healthcare provision for children and young people (CYP) with life-limiting conditions (LLCs). This raises problems when these children develop minor illness or require management of other chronic diseases.
Aim: To investigate the association between GP attendance patterns and hospital urgent and emergency care use.
Design and setting: Retrospective cohort study using a primary care data source (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) in England. The cohort numbered 19 888.
Method: CYP aged 0–25 years with an LLC were identified using Read codes (primary care) or International Classification of Diseases 10 th Revision (ICD-10) codes (secondary care). Emergency inpatient admissions and accident and emergency (A&E) attendances were separately analysed using multivariable, two-level random intercept negative binomial models with key variables of consistency and regularity of GP attendances.
Results: Face-to-face GP surgery consultations reduced, from a mean of 7.12 per person year in 2000 to 4.43 in 2015. Those consulting the GP less regularly had 15% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 10% to 20%) more emergency admissions and 5% more A&E visits (95% CI = 1% to 10%) than those with more regular consultations. CYP who had greater consistency of GP seen had 10% (95% CI = 6% to 14%) fewer A&E attendances but no significant difference in emergency inpatient admissions than those with lower consistency.
Conclusion: There is an association between GP attendance patterns and use of urgent secondary care for CYP with LLCs, with less regular GP attendance associated with higher urgent secondary healthcare use. This is an important area for further investigation and warrants the attention of policymakers and GPs, as the number of CYP with LLCs living in the community rises.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 The Authors. This article is Open Access: CC BY-NC 4.0 licence (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc/4.0/). |
Keywords: | child; continuity of care; emergency healthcare use; general practice; life-limiting condition; primary health care |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > Department of Human Metabolism (Sheffield) The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > Department of Oncology (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 27 Apr 2020 16:03 |
Last Modified: | 27 Apr 2020 16:03 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Royal College of General Practitioners |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.3399/bjgp20x708233 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:159816 |