The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
Audio Summaries

Moving on from patient safety incidents: a qualitative study exploring GP perspectives in England

Jun 7, 2026

This qualitative study explores how general practitioners (GPs) in England experience and recover from patient safety incidents (PSIs), aiming to understand the emotional and professional impacts of these events and the support available. Through interviews with 22 GPs, the authors identify themes related to personal consequences, recovery processes, and barriers to healing, highlighting the need for compassionate and structured support systems to foster a psychologically safe environment for learning and recovery. The findings emphasize the reliance on informal strategies for recovery and the importance of organizational factors in shaping GPs' experiences post-PSI.

Recommended point-of-care tests in out-of-hours primary care: A modified Delphi study

Jun 4, 2026

The authors aimed to establish expert consensus on which point-of-care tests (POCTs) should be deemed essential or optional for out-of-hours primary care services in Europe. Through a modified Delphi study involving an international panel, they identified six essential POCTs, including blood glucose and C-reactive protein testing, while also categorizing additional tests as optional or unnecessary. The findings suggest that implementing these essential tests, along with appropriate training, could enhance diagnostic efficiency in out-of-hours care settings.

Early start of urate-lowering therapy improves serum urate control: results from a large national primary care cohort

Jun 4, 2026

The authors aimed to identify factors associated with long-term serum urate control in gout patients and to describe treatment patterns within a large national primary care cohort. They found that early initiation of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) and better adherence significantly improved serum urate control, yet only 12.4% of patients achieved good control, highlighting the need for enhanced management strategies in gout care.

Diagnostic models for male lower urinary tract symptom management in primary care

Jun 4, 2026

The authors aimed to develop and validate risk-prediction models for diagnosing common urological conditions—bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), detrusor underactivity (DU), and detrusor overactivity (DO)—in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) presenting to primary care. They found that a combination of simple, non-invasive index tests could accurately predict these diagnoses, with the BOO model showing particularly strong performance. This approach may enhance early treatment initiation and management of LUTS in primary care settings.

Fighting to be heard: Thematic analysis of parent perspectives of safety in general practice

Jun 4, 2026

The authors aimed to explore parental perspectives on pediatric safety in primary care, an area that has been under-researched compared to hospital settings. Through workshops with 33 parents, they identified three key themes: the unclear roles in care responsibility, the challenges parents face in navigating the healthcare system, and communication barriers, particularly for ethnic minority parents. The findings suggest that engaging parents as co-partners in safety improvement efforts could enhance trust and safety outcomes for pediatric patients.

Relationships of actual and expected levels of income with GP job satisfaction: a repeated cross-sectional study

Jun 2, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate how actual and expected income levels influence job satisfaction and intentions to quit among General Practitioners (GPs) in England. Their findings indicate that while higher actual income generally correlates with increased job satisfaction, discrepancies between expected and actual income are linked to reduced satisfaction and higher intentions to quit, particularly among younger GPs. This highlights the significance of income expectations in shaping GP job satisfaction and retention.

Online triage and cancer diagnostic activity in general practice: cross-sectional study

Jun 1, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the impact of online triage tools on cancer diagnostic processes and outcomes in general practice. Their analysis revealed that while increased use of these tools correlated with higher rates of urgent suspected cancer referrals and investigations, it did not lead to improved diagnostic outcomes, suggesting potential issues with the quality of referrals. Further research is needed to explore the implications of these findings on patient care.

Non-antibiotic interventions to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections in women: overview of systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials

Jun 1, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of non-antibiotic interventions for preventing recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) in women through an overview of systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials. They found that while cranberry, methenamine hippurate, and vaginal estrogen (in postmenopausal women) are supported by existing evidence, many other interventions, such as probiotics and D-mannose, require further research to establish their efficacy. Additionally, questions remain regarding optimal dosing, treatment adherence, and acceptability for various interventions.

Who are we listening to? A Systematic Scoping Review of Surveys Exploring Patient Satisfaction, Care Experience, And Access to Primary Care Services

Jun 1, 2026

The authors aimed to identify validated surveys used to evaluate the quality of primary care services and assess their design for underserved populations. Through a systematic review of global literature, they found that only 30% of the identified surveys were tailored to these populations, highlighting a significant gap in understanding the unique challenges faced by socially disadvantaged groups in accessing primary care. This lack of equity-focused survey items may hinder efforts to improve care for those most in need.

Primary Care Cardiovascular Risk Reduction after Pregnancy Complications: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Jun 1, 2026

The authors aim to systematically review qualitative literature on women's experiences with behavioral changes for cardiovascular risk reduction following adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), particularly in the context of health equity. Their findings indicate that factors such as delayed recovery, competing responsibilities, and the need for tailored support significantly influence women's ability to initiate and maintain health-promoting behaviors. The study highlights the necessity of structured, family-oriented interventions to effectively address cardiovascular disease risk, especially among underrepresented high-risk groups.