General practitioners’ perceptions of different practice models: a qualitative study

Catherine Joyce; Hayley McDonald; Laureen Lawlor-Smith

doi:10.1071/py15025

journal article Sep 09, 2015

General practitioners’ perceptions of different practice models: a qualitative study

Catherine Joyce Hayley McDonald Laureen Lawlor-Smith

Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 22 No. 5 pp. 388-393 · CSIRO Publishing

View at Publisher Save 10.1071/py15025

Abstract

Ownership of general practices is changing, but perceptions of GPs about ownership and the factors influencing their decisions about this are not well understood. The aim of this study was to explore GPs’ perceptions and attitudes towards different practice models. GPs (n = 138) in the Southern Adelaide-Fleurieu-Kangaroo Island Medicare Local region participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analysed thematically. Thirty-nine per cent of participants were practice owners, and 64% were working in a practice with six or more GPs. Factors driving practice ownership were flexibility, autonomy and financial reward. Factors discouraging ownership were increased responsibility, time commitment and the potential for financial burden. Some interest in future practice ownership was evident, but concerns were also raised about the knowledge and skills required. Strategies are needed both to support GPs who do wish to be practice owners and to facilitate a range of practice models to ensure continued delivery of accessible, quality primary medical care to patients.

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Metrics

6

Citations

30

References

Details

Published: Sep 09, 2015
Vol/Issue: 22(5)
Pages: 388-393
License: View

Authors

C

Catherine Joyce

ASchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 6th Floor, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.; DCorresponding author. Email: catherine.joyce@monash.edu

H

Hayley McDonald

ASchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 6th Floor, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.; CPresent address: Monash Injury Research Centre, Monash University, Building 70, 21 Alliance Lane, Clayton Campus, Vic. 3800, Australia.

L

Laureen Lawlor-Smith

BSouthern Adelaide–Fleurieu–Kangaroo Island Medicare Local, Mitsubishi Administration Building, Level 1, 1284 South Road, Clovelly Park, SA 5039, Australia.

Cite This Article

Catherine Joyce, Hayley McDonald, Laureen Lawlor-Smith (2015). General practitioners’ perceptions of different practice models: a qualitative study. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 22(5), 388-393. https://doi.org/10.1071/py15025

General practitioners’ perceptions of different practice models: a qualitative study

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