Characteristics of a stratified random sample of New Zealand general practices

• DOI: 10.1071/hc17089
• Publication Date: 2018-09-17T00:25:11Z
• Authors: Sharon Leitch; Susan M. Dovey; Ari Samaranayaka; David M. Reith; Katharine A. Wallis; Kyle S. Eggleton; Andrew W. McMenamin; Wayne K. Cunningham; Martyn I. Williamson; Steven Lillis; Murray W. Tilyard
• Keywords: Rurality; Staffing; Stratified Sampling; Best practice; Sample (material)

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Practice size and location may affect the quality safety of health care. Little is known about contemporary New Zealand general practice characteristics in terms staffing, ownership services. AIM To describe compare small, medium large practices rural urban Zealand. METHODS Seventy-two were randomly selected from 2014 Primary Health Organisation database invited to participate a records review study. Forty-five recruited located throughout provided data on staff, health-care services ownership. Chi-square other non-parametric statistical analyses used practices. RESULTS The 45 study constituted 4.6% Rural further nearest regional base hospital (rural median 65.0 km, 7.5 km (P < 0.001)), local 25.7 7.0 = 0.002)) neighbouring practitioner (GP) 16.0 1.0 0.007)). In practices, there more enrolled patients per GP FTE than both medium-sized small (mean 1827 compared 1457 1120 respectively, P 0.019). Nurses likely insert intravenous lines 0.026) take blood 0.049). There no significant differences arrangements according or rurality. CONCLUSION Study relatively homogenous. Unsurprisingly, away hospitals. Larger had higher patient-to-doctor ratios increased nursing scope. sample small; findings need be confirmed by specifically powered research.