Evaluation of a General Practitioner with Special Interest model: lessons learned from staff experiences

Abstract

Background The integration of general practitioners into specialist outpatient clinics is associated with improved access to care; however, little is understood about the organisation-level factors that affect successful implementation. We aimed to identify factors that were facilitators or barriers to the implementation of a General Practitioner with Special Interest (GPwSI) model of care across a range of specialties. Methods Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 25 stakeholders at 13 GPwSI clinics in operation within a Queensland public health service. A deductive content analysis was conducted using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Results Stakeholders generally supported the GPwSI model and saw advantages to patients and specialist medical practitioners in terms of waiting lists, workload, and improving clinician self-efficacy and knowledge. A number of factors were identified as being crucial to the success of the program, such as adequate support and planning for the implementation, appropriate funding and advocacy. Conclusions Our evaluation indicates that a GPwSI model can be a beneficial resource for improving care to patients and reducing wait lists, dependent upon adequate planning, training, and support.