6.1.2 Patients

Patient Survey

Of the 1050 individuals invited to participate in the study, 710 provided data, with numbers per GP Super Clinic ranging from 9 to 146.

Table 3 provides socio-demographic characteristics of the sample. Almost two-thirds of the patients were female, and approximately half were aged 45 years or over, with 17% aged 65 or over. Fifty-nine percent were married or in a de facto relationship, and only 4% of the sample were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. While 84% of the sample were born in Australia, 11% spoke a language other than English.

These data were compared to GP encounters with Bettering the Evaluation And Care of Health (BEACH) data. Relative to the population of general practice patients from BEACH data, the GP Super Clinics’ patient sample had a slightly higher proportion of females, were younger, and had a higher proportion of Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islanders.²⁶

Table 3: Demographic Characteristics of Patient Participants in Survey

Patient Characteristic		Patient Survey Data
	Number		Proportion of Sample (%)
Gender
Male		253	36
Female		457	64
Age Group
18-24		73	10
25-34		134	19
35-44		141	20
45-54		140	20
55-64		95	13
65-74		67	9
75+		60	8
Relationship Status*
Never married		149	21
Widowed		42	6
Divorced		58	8
Separated		38	5
Married (registered and de facto)		417	59
Other Characteristics
Aboriginal person		31	4
Non-English speaking background		74	11
Born in Australia		593	84

* Data missing for 6 observations

Table 4 provides an overview of the employment status and health insurance characteristics of the patients who completed the survey in this evaluation.

Table 4: Employment and Health Insurance Characteristics of Patient Participants in Survey

Patient Characteristic	Patient Survey Data
	Number	Proportion of Sample (%)
Employment Status
Employed full-time	273	38
Employed part-time	158	22
Unemployed	78	11
Not in the labour force	201	28
Health Insurance Characteristics
Health Care, Veterans Affairs or Pensioner Concession Card	172	24
Private health insurance	148	21
No insurance or card	389	55

Sixty percent of patients were in either full- or part-time employment. Over half of patients (55%) did not have either private insurance or a health concession card (Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veterans Affairs Card).

An overview of the characteristics of patients completing the survey in relation to attendances at the GP Super Clinic is provided in Table 5.

Table 5: Overview of GP Super Clinics Attendances of Patient Participants in Survey

Patient Characteristic	Patient Survey Data
	Number	Proportion of Sample (%)
Attendances
Usual GP Practice	645	91
Changed from another practice	343	52
See GPs at another practice	162	23
Expecting to see usual doctor	460	67
Clinicians other than GP seen in last year at GP Super Clinic
Seen Nurse	344	50
Seen Allied health clinician	188	27
Seen medical specialist	36	5
Frequency of Attending GP in Last Year*
1 time	43	6
2-3 times	166	24
4-5 times	159	23
6-7 times	113	16
8-9 times	45	7
More than 10 times	165	24
Main Reason for Attending GP Super Clinics
New problem	164	24
Existing or chronic problem	221	32
Work related problem	18	3
Treatment/procedure	17	2
Medication problem or prescription	83	12
Get results	86	12
General check up	40	6
Referral	13	2
Vaccination	7	1
Other	42	6

* Contains Missing data

Six hundred and forty-five patients (91%) considered the GP Super Clinics as their usual GP practices. Of all patients who participated in the survey, 343 (52%) reported that they changed practice to attend the GP Super Clinics. Two-thirds of patients (67%) indicated that they were expecting to see their usual doctors at the visit. In relation to the other clinicians that patients had seen at the GP Super Clinics in the last twelve months, 50% had seen nurses, 27% had seen allied health clinicians and 5% had seen medical specialists.

Nearly one quarter (24%) of all patients reported attending the GP Super Clinics more than 10 times in the last twelve months. Twenty-four percent of patients were attending the GP Super Clinics on the day of survey completion for new problems, with 32% attending for existing or chronic problems.

Patient Interviews

Twenty-four patients at the seven GP Super Clinics consented to participate in the semi-structured interviews. Of those patients interviewed, 75% were female, with age range from 25 to 78 years, and all but one patient had visited the GP Super Clinics a number of times.

²⁶Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, et al. General Practice Activity in Australia 2008-2009. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2009. General Practice Series no. 25.