BJGP OpenPub Date : 2026-10-20DOI: 10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0231
Emma Bray, Lucy Hives, Rachel Georgiou, Valerio Benedetto, Paul Heyworth, Patrick Doherty, Nefyn Howard Williams, Paul Rutter, Joe Spencer, Andrew Clegg, Caroline L Watkins
{"title":"How feasible is self-monitoring for the management of prehypertension? A prospective, non-randomised, mixed-methods, feasibility study (the REVERSE study).","authors":"Emma Bray, Lucy Hives, Rachel Georgiou, Valerio Benedetto, Paul Heyworth, Patrick Doherty, Nefyn Howard Williams, Paul Rutter, Joe Spencer, Andrew Clegg, Caroline L Watkins","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0231","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prehypertension (blood pressure [BP] 120-139/80-89 mmHg) affects 40% of UK adults, increasing their cardiovascular risk. While BP self-monitoring is effective in hypertension, its feasibility in prehypertension is unclear. Concerns include lack of interest, medicalisation, and unintended consequences, despite evidence suggesting it may empower individuals in risk management and prevention.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To determine the feasibility of BP self-monitoring for prehypertension.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>A prospective, non-randomised, mixed-methods, feasibility study across primary care in Lancashire and South Cumbria.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>People with prehypertension were recruited from five general practices, three pharmacies, and one provider that checked BP. Participants received a BP monitor and training, then self-monitored BP on the first 3 days of each month for 6 months. Participants submitted their results to the research team. Outcome data were collected at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months, and analysed mainly using descriptive statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 162 expressions of interest, 80 people were eligible and consented; 78 from general practice, and one each from pharmacy and community providers. Of those recruited, 66 (83%) and 33 (41%) completed the 6-month and 12-month follow-up, respectively, with minimal missing data. No adverse effects were reported. Illness perceptions significantly improved (mean 26.6 [standard deviation {SD} 8.6] versus mean 22.6 [SD 8.7], <i>P</i> = 0.002), with no other significant changes. There was only one participant who did not class their ethnicity as white.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>BP self-monitoring for prehypertension is feasible in general practice, but requires further exploration with pharmacy and community providers. The homogenous sample limits generalisability, highlighting the need for targeted outreach. Findings need confirming in an effectiveness trial.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147481816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJGP OpenPub Date : 2026-10-20DOI: 10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0196
Ruth Plackett, Iris van der Scheer, Jessica-Mae Steward, Vacha Fadia, Jessica Sheringham, Silvie Cooper, Lucy Biddle, Judi Kidger, Patricia Schartau, Kate Walters
{"title":"Exploring the barriers and facilitators to discussing social media in primary care for young adults with mental health concerns: a qualitative study.","authors":"Ruth Plackett, Iris van der Scheer, Jessica-Mae Steward, Vacha Fadia, Jessica Sheringham, Silvie Cooper, Lucy Biddle, Judi Kidger, Patricia Schartau, Kate Walters","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0196","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0196","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Social media is a pervasive part of young peoples' lives and may influence their mental health. Primary care is often the first point of care when seeking help for mental health problems. However, little is known about how young adults with mental health problems experience and perceive primary care support for managing social media.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore young adults' views on help-seeking for social media use in primary care in relation to mental health problems.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Qualitative interview study with 28 young adults aged 18-25 with self-reported mental health problems across England.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Semi-structured interviews were analysed thematically to identify barriers and facilitators to help-seeking. Themes were organised using the Theory of Planned Behaviour: attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioural control.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Barriers for help-seeking included attitudes that social media was a secondary issue and low expectations of meaningful support; perceived negative attitudes and limited understanding of social media by primary care clinicians, communities and families; and constrained ability to seek help due to limited consultation time and uncertainty around how to seek help. Facilitators included clinicians offering practical strategies, raising the topic non-judgmentally, receiving training to better understand young people's digital lives, longer appointment times, and clearer information about support in primary care for social media-related concerns.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Young adults with mental health concerns face multiple barriers to discussing social media in primary care, shaped by attitudes and structural challenges. Addressing these through clinician training, communication, and service adaptations may enhance engagement and support.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146114528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJGP OpenPub Date : 2026-10-08DOI: 10.3399/BJGPO.2026.0163
Vishnuga Raveendran, Claire Thorne, Charlotte Jackson, Rashmi D'Souza, Pia Hardelid
{"title":"Trends in long COVID and post-viral fatigue in children in primary care in England.","authors":"Vishnuga Raveendran, Claire Thorne, Charlotte Jackson, Rashmi D'Souza, Pia Hardelid","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2026.0163","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2026.0163","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Post-viral sequelae following the COVID-19 pandemic attention to post-viral fatigue and long COVID, but the impact on children and young people's (CYP) primary care use is unknown.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To examine temporal, seasonal, and sociodemographic patterns in primary care consultations for long COVID and PVFS in CYP DESIGN AND SETTINGS: We conducted a retrospective, population-based dynamic cohort study using Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum data for CYP aged <18 years in England, between 1<sup>st</sup> January 2006 and 31<sup>st</sup> December 2022 (from 1<sup>st</sup> March 2020 for long COVID); a period covering the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and COVID-19 pandemics.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Consultation rates per 100 000 child-years were calculated for long COVID and post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS) by calendar year, month, and sociodemographic characteristics. Trends, seasonal patterns, and differences between pandemic and non-pandemic periods (for PVFS) were described. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate associations with sociodemographic characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cohort included 7,442,572 CYP (3 624 692 registered in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic). There were 6700 long COVID and 20,440 PVFS consultations. Long COVID consultation rates were highest in 2022 (140.3 per 100,00 child-years). PVFS consultation rates peaked in 2009 and 2022 (during H1N1 and COVID pandemics) with rates of 57.1 and 56.9 per 100 000 child-years, respectively. Consultation rates were highest among older CYP, girls, and those from least deprived areas.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Long COVID consultations were highest in 2022, and PVFS consultation rates peaked during 2009 and 2022. Our findings that rates were highest in less deprived areas and girls need further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJGP OpenPub Date : 2026-10-08DOI: 10.3399/BJGPO.2026.0085
Ai Li Ong, James A Miller, Xin Rong Ng, Khai Ee Tan, Jo-Anne E Manski-Nankervis, Bernett Tk Lee, Ming Yann Karen Ng, Sabrina Kw Wong
{"title":"Impact of a national enrolment programme on preventive care uptake in Singapore: a cohort study of 268,315 patients.","authors":"Ai Li Ong, James A Miller, Xin Rong Ng, Khai Ee Tan, Jo-Anne E Manski-Nankervis, Bernett Tk Lee, Ming Yann Karen Ng, Sabrina Kw Wong","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2026.0085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2026.0085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Preventive care uptake in Singapore remains suboptimal despite longstanding national programmes. Healthier SG, launched in July 2023, aims to strengthen primary care through empanelment, continuity, and proactive health planning, but evidence on its effectiveness is limited.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the association between Healthier SG enrolment and uptake of preventive care services.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records from National Healthcare Group Polyclinics.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Adults aged≥40 years with at least two annual visits between January 2018 and September 2024 were included. Outcomes were cervical cancer screening, influenza and pneumococcal vaccination, and cardiovascular risk screening. Quarterly uptake rates were analysed across four periods: pre-COVID-19, COVID-19, post-COVID-19/pre-Healthier SG, and post-Healthier SG.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Preventive care uptake in Healthier SG enrolees demonstrated more favourable uptake trajectories across all preventive care outcomes. For cervical cancer screening, uptake declined during COVID-19 and recovered thereafter. Following Healthier SG implementation, cervical screening showed a steeper upward trend among enrolees than non-enrolees (quarterly trend change+0.57% versus+0.05%). Although vaccination uptake declined after the post-pandemic peak, reductions were less pronounced among enrolees (influenza: -0.41% versus -2.18%; pneumococcal:+0.07% versus -1.13% per quarter). Cardiovascular risk screening demonstrated a ceiling effect, with a smaller decline among enrolees than non-enrolees (-0.03% vs -0.32%). Among eligible patients, lower enrolment in ethnic minority, single, lower SES housing suggest potential inequities.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>HSG enrolment was associated with greater uptake of selected preventive services. As an observational study restricted to regular primary care users, findings may not be generalisable to less-engaged populations. Continued evaluation is needed to assess long-term impact and equity of preventive care uptake.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJGP OpenPub Date : 2026-10-06DOI: 10.3399/BJGPO.2026.0075
Rachel O'Donnell, Alice Malpass, Clare Thomas, Martha Elwenspoek, Jessica Watson, Penny Whiting, Tracey Stone
{"title":"'We don't need to check it, but we do check it': a qualitative study of the views of primary care healthcare professionals on blood test monitoring in three long-term conditions.","authors":"Rachel O'Donnell, Alice Malpass, Clare Thomas, Martha Elwenspoek, Jessica Watson, Penny Whiting, Tracey Stone","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2026.0075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2026.0075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In the UK there is variation in which tests are used for monitoring Long Term Conditions (LTCs). Guidance that underpins testing practices for LTCs is often based on expert opinion rather than evidence. There is little insight into the views of primary care staff as to why such variation exists or on whether current LTC blood test monitoring is optimal.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To understand the views of Healthcare Professionals on blood test monitoring for three LTCs (type 2 diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease), identify factors that shape monitoring practices for LTCs and inform the development and implementation of an optimised testing intervention for primary care.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Qualitative, in depth, semi-structured interviews with HCPs engaged in monitoring blood tests for LTCs in primary care in the West of England.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Twenty-one HCPs were recruited from four GP practices. Practices represented a range of social deprivation scores, patient list size and demographics. Qualitative interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a reflexive thematic approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified variation in views and testing behaviours in blood test monitoring across HCPs and practices. HCPs reported that many of the drivers of testing variation in their experience were systemic, including barriers from IT systems, funding structures and inconsistent testing guidelines. Other drivers included socio-behavioural factors such as patient behaviours and HCP experience.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is a recognition in primary care that testing for LTCs could be optimised but a lack of consensus on how to approach this. Practices employ different and various approaches to testing. This has important implications for effective implementation of interventions to optimise testing practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149115917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJGP OpenPub Date : 2026-10-06DOI: 10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0208
Gillian Doe, Simon Wathall, Kumaran Balasundaram, Lindsey Berends, Cheryl Chapman, Ben Bowers, Pip Divall, Jonathan Mant, Anna Spathis, Rachael A Evans
{"title":"Optimal medical management in primary care for individuals with chronic breathlessness (OptiMed): evidence synthesis using national guidelines and qualitative methods.","authors":"Gillian Doe, Simon Wathall, Kumaran Balasundaram, Lindsey Berends, Cheryl Chapman, Ben Bowers, Pip Divall, Jonathan Mant, Anna Spathis, Rachael A Evans","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0208","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0208","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic breathlessness poses a significant burden for individuals and healthcare systems. Effective symptom-directed approaches, such as breathing and relaxation techniques, require medical optimisation of the underlying long-term condition causing breathlessness. We previously identified nine, predominantly cardiorespiratory, long-term conditions contributing to the greatest burden of breathlessness in primary care.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>Develop checklists to support primary care in delivering optimal, evidence-based management of conditions causing chronic breathlessness.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Synthesis of national guidance and stakeholder workshops, using a co-design approach.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Desktop review of national guidance relating to the management of each condition was synthesised as the basis for the checklists. Virtual workshops and interviews were conducted to further adapt the checklist content with stakeholders (primary care staff, clinical specialists, and representatives from national speciality groups). Workshops were recorded and facilitated by a qualitative researcher with clinical experience. Insights from workshop data were incorporated to produce draft checklists for verification by workshop participants. Checklist contents were refined and agreed in consultation with national specialist groups. Electronic patient record templates were developed to operationalise the checklists.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-two national guidelines were reviewed and synthesised into the checklist drafts. Six virtual workshops and nine individual interviews were conducted with 30 key stakeholders (five GPs, four nurses, six physiotherapists, three pharmacists, three dietitians, and nine physicians). Participants directed the checklist format to include safety netting, key diagnostic checks, and optimal management.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Short, pragmatic, evidence-based checklists were developed for use in primary care to support primary care clinicians in managing the main conditions contributing to chronic breathlessness.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147468600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJGP OpenPub Date : 2026-10-06DOI: 10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0184
Kate Lippiett, Andrew Turner, Caroline Coope, Cindy Mann, Alice Moult, Dereth Baker, Simon Chilcott, Clare Jinks, Krysia Dziedzic, Andrew Finney, Chris Salisbury, Rachel Johnson, Maria Carmen Portillo-Vega
{"title":"Nurses delivering person-centred multiple long-term condition reviews in primary care: a secondary analysis of qualitative data.","authors":"Kate Lippiett, Andrew Turner, Caroline Coope, Cindy Mann, Alice Moult, Dereth Baker, Simon Chilcott, Clare Jinks, Krysia Dziedzic, Andrew Finney, Chris Salisbury, Rachel Johnson, Maria Carmen Portillo-Vega","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0184","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0184","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>General practice nurses in England often manage long-term conditions (LTCs), with more people now living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTC). Evidence on the effectiveness and delivery of person-centred care for MLTCs is limited, and the nurse's role - including necessary training - remains underexplored.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To identify and characterise general practice nurses' experiences of undertaking person-centred MLTC reviews in England.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Secondary analysis of qualitative data gathered from general practice staff in England.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Two-part review consultations for people with three or more LTCs (rather than separate single-condition reviews as per usual care) in 16 English general practices, part of a larger implementation project (PP4M). Empirical qualitative data (healthcare staff interviews and researcher fieldnotes) and theoretical approaches (chronic care model, normalisation process theory) were analysed abductively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two overarching themes were identified: healthcare professionals' understanding of MLTC reviews' purpose and the challenges and opportunities for nurses delivering MLTC reviews. Some nurses utilised reviews as data-gathering exercises, facilitating collection of nationally set, quality-driven financial incentives linked to single conditions. Other nurses used reviews as opportunities for meaningful discussion of complex problems, leading to action. MLTC reviews allowed nurses a new way of thinking; some found this empowering, whereas others found it challenging.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>General practice nurses are central to MLTC care. They value organisational support for training in person-centred MLTC management, but it remains unclear how best to achieve necessary training. Further research is needed on skills and training required for all healthcare professionals caring for people with MLTC.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147317601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJGP OpenPub Date : 2026-10-06DOI: 10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0237
Natasha Doran, Gordon Taylor, Michael Harris
{"title":"'I was lucky!' Exploring how practice placements affect F2 doctors' attitudes to a GP career: a mixed-methods study.","authors":"Natasha Doran, Gordon Taylor, Michael Harris","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0237","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0237","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The NHS has a workload that is increasingly moving from secondary to primary care. The proportion of foundation year 2 (F2) doctor specialty training applicants appointed to GP training programmes has historically been in decline. Though recent figures show an increase in applications, the pattern of high competition and many F2s not progressing directly into GP training is ongoing.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore the features of F2 GP placements that influence career choice.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>A retrospective mixed-methods study using an online survey followed by semi-structured interviews.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A survey of 77 F2 doctors from three Health Education England regions was completed, of which 20 took part in interviews following their 4-month GP placement. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data using thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study found considerable variation between practice placements in terms of F2s' workload, the quality of supervision and support, whether they encountered inspiring GP role models, the degree of isolation, educational opportunities, and the culture of the practice. F2 doctors consider that their GP placements are invaluable for their learning; however, placement experiences were mixed, with F2 doctors being attracted to and 'put off' a GP career in equal numbers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is a need to ensure consistently high quality GP placement experiences for F2 doctors that can best inform their career choice. F2 doctors made several recommendations following their GP placement, which, if implemented, may help to increase the attractiveness of general practice as a career.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147356805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJGP OpenPub Date : 2026-10-06DOI: 10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0218
Erica di Martino, Tasneem Khan, Stephen H Bradley, Tom Daniels, Robbie Foy, Sarah Alderson, Richard D Neal, Thomas A Willis
{"title":"Evaluation of an audit and feedback intervention to improve uptake of cervical screening.","authors":"Erica di Martino, Tasneem Khan, Stephen H Bradley, Tom Daniels, Robbie Foy, Sarah Alderson, Richard D Neal, Thomas A Willis","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0218","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0218","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cervical screening programmes are long-established and supported by robust evidence, but participation is declining. Around a third of those eligible did not participate in England in 2023-2024.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an audit and feedback intervention to improve the uptake of cervical screening in general practice.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Semi-structured interview study with general practice staff in three primary care networks (PCNs) and regional and national policy leaders.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Quarterly reports were generated for 23 general practices comparing cervical screening coverage with other local practices with similar population levels of deprivation, alongside resources and practical suggestions to improve screening uptake. Reports were emailed to practice managers who were asked to share them with their teams. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with practice staff and health service leaders to determine how the reports were received, understood, and used. Interviews were structured and analysed using Clinical Performance Feedback Intervention Theory (CP-FIT).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fourteen practice staff and three service leaders were interviewed. Practice teams seldom recalled seeing the feedback reports before interview invitations but generally viewed them positively when shown at interview. Report format, length, frequency, and content were considered appropriate. Staff involved in cervical screening found the reports clear and informative, and thought that enhanced awareness and motivation could prompt positive actions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Audit and feedback cannot improve cervical cancer screening uptake if targeted recipients do not receive it. More effective methods are required to engage or circumvent practice 'gatekeepers' to ensure feedback reaches those it is intended for.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147317555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}