RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Is proactive frailty identification a good idea? A qualitative interview study
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP BJGP.2020.0178
DO 10.3399/BJGP.2020.0178
A1 Ebrahim Mulla
A1 Elizabeth Orton
A1 Denise Kendrick
YR 2021
UL http://bjgp.org/content/early/2021/06/28/BJGP.2020.0178.abstract
AB Background In England, GPs are independent contractors working to a national contract. Since 2017, the contract requires GPs to use electronic tools to proactively identify moderate and severe frailty in people aged ≥65 years, and offer interventions to help those identified to stay well and maintain independent living. Little is currently known about GPs’ views of this contractual requirement.Aim To explore GPs’ views of identifying frailty and offering interventions for those living with moderate or severe frailty.Design and setting A sequential mixed-methods study of GPs in the East Midlands region of England — namely Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Northamptonshire — undertaken between January and May 2019.Method GPs were made aware of the study via professional organisations’ newsletters and bulletins, GP email lists, and social media, and were invited to complete an online questionnaire. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and, based on those survey responses, GPs with a range of GP and practice characteristics, as well as views on identifying frailty, were selected to participate in a semi-structured telephone interview. Interview transcripts were analysed using framework analysis.Results In total, 188 out of 3058 (6.1%) GPs responded to the survey and 18 GPs were interviewed. GPs were broadly supportive of identifying frailty, but felt risk-stratification tools lacked sensitivity and specificity, and wanted evidence showing clinical benefit. Frailty identification increased workload and was under-resourced, with limited time for, and access to, necessary interventions. GPs felt they lacked knowledge about frailty and more education was required to better understand it.Conclusion Proactively identifying and responding to frailty in primary care requires GP education, highly sensitive and specific risk-stratification tools, better access to interventions to lessen the impact of frailty, and adequate resourcing to achieve potential clinical impact.