Factors associated with potentially missed acute deterioration in primary care: cohort study of UK general practices (1 June 2021)

Summary

n the UK, while most primary care contacts are uncomplicated, safety incidents do occur and result in patient harm, for example, failure to recognise a patient’s deterioration in health.

This study by Cecil et al. determined the patient and healthcare factors associated with potentially missed acute deterioration in health.

Differentiating acute deterioration from self-limiting conditions can be difficult for clinicians, particularly in patients with sepsis, urinary tract infections, or long-term conditions. The findings of this study support the call for longer GP consultations and caution against reliance on telephone consultations in primary care; however, more research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.