General practitioner identification and retention for people with spinal cord damage: establishing factors to inform a general practitioner satisfaction measure

Aust J Prim Health. 2020 Jun;26(3):234-239. doi: 10.1071/PY20017.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Female
  • General Practitioners / psychology*
  • General Practitioners / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data*
  • Queensland
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires