Why Test study protocol: a UK-wide audit using the Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) to explore the reasons for primary care testing
Background: The number of blood tests done in primary care has been increasing over the past 20 years. Some estimates suggest that up to one-quarter of these tests may not have been needed. This could lead to a cascade effect of further investigations, appointments, or referrals, as well as anxiety...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Royal College of General Practitioners
2022-09-01
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| Series: | BJGP Open |
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| Online Access: | https://bjgpopen.org/content/6/3/BJGPO.2022.0017 |
| _version_ | 1811209267502383104 |
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| author | Alexander Burrell Polly Duncan Ian Bennett-Britton Sam Hodgson Samuel WD Merriel Salman Waqar Penny Whiting Jessica Watson on behalf of the Primary Care Academic Collaborative (PACT) |
| author_facet | Alexander Burrell Polly Duncan Ian Bennett-Britton Sam Hodgson Samuel WD Merriel Salman Waqar Penny Whiting Jessica Watson on behalf of the Primary Care Academic Collaborative (PACT) |
| author_sort | Alexander Burrell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The number of blood tests done in primary care has been increasing over the past 20 years. Some estimates suggest that up to one-quarter of these tests may not have been needed. This could lead to a cascade effect of further investigations, appointments, or referrals, as well as anxiety for patients, increased workload, and costs to the health service. To better understand the impact and sequelae of blood tests on patients, it is necessary to know why blood tests are requested and what is done with the results. Aim: To explore who orders blood tests and why, and how test results are actioned in primary care. Design & setting: Retrospective audit of electronic health records in general practices across the UK. Method: The Primary care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT), a UK-wide network of primary care health professionals, will be utilised to collect data from individual practices. PACT members will be asked to review the electronic health records of 50 patients who had recent blood tests in their practice, and manually extract anonymised data on who requested the test, the indication, the result, and subsequent actions. Data will also be collected from PACT members to assess the feasibility of the collaborative model. Conclusion: PACT offers a unique opportunity to extract clinical data which cannot otherwise be obtained. Understanding the indications for tests will help identify priority areas for research to optimise testing and patient safety in primary care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:36:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-27cbaaa0316a4a059caed50035c0da1a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2398-3795 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:36:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Royal College of General Practitioners |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJGP Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-27cbaaa0316a4a059caed50035c0da1a2022-12-22T03:47:47ZengRoyal College of General PractitionersBJGP Open2398-37952022-09-016310.3399/BJGPO.2022.0017Why Test study protocol: a UK-wide audit using the Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) to explore the reasons for primary care testingAlexander Burrell0Polly Duncan1Ian Bennett-Britton2Sam Hodgson3Samuel WD Merriel4Salman Waqar5Penny Whiting6Jessica Watson7on behalf of the Primary Care Academic Collaborative (PACT)Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKCentre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKPrimary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UKPrimary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UKExeter Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx), Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UKNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKCentre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKCentre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKBackground: The number of blood tests done in primary care has been increasing over the past 20 years. Some estimates suggest that up to one-quarter of these tests may not have been needed. This could lead to a cascade effect of further investigations, appointments, or referrals, as well as anxiety for patients, increased workload, and costs to the health service. To better understand the impact and sequelae of blood tests on patients, it is necessary to know why blood tests are requested and what is done with the results. Aim: To explore who orders blood tests and why, and how test results are actioned in primary care. Design & setting: Retrospective audit of electronic health records in general practices across the UK. Method: The Primary care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT), a UK-wide network of primary care health professionals, will be utilised to collect data from individual practices. PACT members will be asked to review the electronic health records of 50 patients who had recent blood tests in their practice, and manually extract anonymised data on who requested the test, the indication, the result, and subsequent actions. Data will also be collected from PACT members to assess the feasibility of the collaborative model. Conclusion: PACT offers a unique opportunity to extract clinical data which cannot otherwise be obtained. Understanding the indications for tests will help identify priority areas for research to optimise testing and patient safety in primary care.https://bjgpopen.org/content/6/3/BJGPO.2022.0017clinical decision-makingclinical laboratory techniquescollaborative researchelectronic health recordsfeasibility studiesgeneral practicehematologic testsprimary health care |
| spellingShingle | Alexander Burrell Polly Duncan Ian Bennett-Britton Sam Hodgson Samuel WD Merriel Salman Waqar Penny Whiting Jessica Watson on behalf of the Primary Care Academic Collaborative (PACT) Why Test study protocol: a UK-wide audit using the Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) to explore the reasons for primary care testing BJGP Open clinical decision-making clinical laboratory techniques collaborative research electronic health records feasibility studies general practice hematologic tests primary health care |
| title | Why Test study protocol: a UK-wide audit using the Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) to explore the reasons for primary care testing |
| title_full | Why Test study protocol: a UK-wide audit using the Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) to explore the reasons for primary care testing |
| title_fullStr | Why Test study protocol: a UK-wide audit using the Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) to explore the reasons for primary care testing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why Test study protocol: a UK-wide audit using the Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) to explore the reasons for primary care testing |
| title_short | Why Test study protocol: a UK-wide audit using the Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) to explore the reasons for primary care testing |
| title_sort | why test study protocol a uk wide audit using the primary care academic collaborative pact to explore the reasons for primary care testing |
| topic | clinical decision-making clinical laboratory techniques collaborative research electronic health records feasibility studies general practice hematologic tests primary health care |
| url | https://bjgpopen.org/content/6/3/BJGPO.2022.0017 |
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