It is estimated that approximately 29 million consultations occur in general practice in Ireland each year. To date research has been lacking on how GPs assess the quality of care provided in the course of this work. The aim of this study was to examine how GP’s assess care quality on an ongoing basis during routine general practice.
During the course of this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 GPs recruited via a snow-ball sampling strategy. During data analysis a quality ‘assessment point’ was deemed to be any factor identified as evaluative in nature or informing of subsequent action relating to any aspect of quality in general practice. From these themed assessment points, a theory was produced.
Five female and five male GPs practicing in a variety of settings were interviewed as part of this study. The age range of participants was 33 to 68 years (median age 44 years). 122 assessment points emerged from the data and were collated into 8 themes; the GP as professional person, the patient and co-production, care team factors, direct care factors, outcome factors, practice environment and organisation factors, external environment factors and improvement approach factors.
This is the first study to examine how GPs in Ireland assess care quality as a holistic construct during daily care. The results and theory are likely to be useful and applicable for practicing GPs, policy makers and funders in planning and executing changes for quality improvement.