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The coding of telephone consultations in UK primary care databases: are we picking up all the calls?

Mark Atkinson Orcid Logo, Roxanne Cooksey Orcid Logo, Jenna Jones, Sinead Brophy Orcid Logo

BMC Research Notes, Volume: 16, Issue: 1

Swansea University Authors: Mark Atkinson Orcid Logo, Roxanne Cooksey Orcid Logo, Jenna Jones, Sinead Brophy Orcid Logo

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Abstract

ObjectivesTo examine the use of two coding systems used in the THIN UK primary care research database for the coding of telephone encounters between patient and healthcare professional in primary care. This is relevant to other research databases built on GP clinical systems. Consideration of teleph...

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Published in: BMC Research Notes
ISSN: 1756-0500
Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2023
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63441
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Abstract: ObjectivesTo examine the use of two coding systems used in the THIN UK primary care research database for the coding of telephone encounters between patient and healthcare professional in primary care. This is relevant to other research databases built on GP clinical systems. Consideration of telephone consultations was particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic as remote interactions between patient and GP are more numerous than before and are likely to remain at a higher frequency.ResultsTelephone encounters could either be indicated by a consultation-type code or by a Read code. All three possible combinations (coded by one method, the other method and both) were in use. In 2014, 30% were coded by the consultation-type, 55% by Read codes and 15% by both. In contrast, in 2000, 77% were coded by the consultation-type, 21% by Read codes and 2% by both. This has important implications because national and regional consultation rates by GPs are often estimated from these research databases by looking only at the consultation-type codes and consequently many encounters will not be detected.
Keywords: Telephone consultation, General practitioner, Electronic health record
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Issue: 1