Table 4.
Relation between potential explanatory variables and each outcome in multilevel models
| Variables | Overall satisfaction—patient level mean 0.00 (SD 0.85) | Ability to get an appointment—patient level mean −0.05 (SD 0.81) | Access—patient level mean 63.10 (SD 17.75) | Communication—patient level mean 83.10 (SD 17.50) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coefficient (95% CI) | P value | Coefficient (95% CI) | P value | Coefficient (95% CI) | P value | Coefficient (95% CI) | P value | ||||
| Practice level | |||||||||||
| List size (per 1000 patients) | 0.01 (0.00 to 0.01) | 0.32 | 0.13 (0.05 to 0.21) | 0.001 | 0.82 (−1.23 to 2.86) | 0.44 | 0.68 (−0.49 to 1.85) | 0.25 | |||
| No of full time equivalent GPs | −0.07 (−0.19 to 0.05) | 0.24 | −0.21 (−0.36 to −0.06) | 0.01 | −3.43 (−7.33 to 0.47) | 0.08 | −1.55 (−3.8 to 0.70) | 0.18 | |||
| Advanced access practice* | 0.06 (−0.09 to 0.21) | 0.41 | 0.31 (0.12 to 0.50) | <0.001 | 3.95 (−1.01 to 8.92) | 0.12 | 0.70 (−2.04 to 3.45) | 0.62 | |||
| Ex-fundholding practice* | 0.02 (−0.12 to 0.16) | 0.79 | 0.17 (−0.01 to 0.34) | 0.06 | 0.40 (−4.19 to 4.99) | 0.86 | −1.14 (−3.64 to 1.35) | 0.37 | |||
| QOF points (log)† | 0.02 (−0.15 to 0.20) | 0.80 | 0.25 (0.02 to 0.48) | 0.03 | 1.91 (−3.94 to 7.76) | 0.52 | 3.43 (0.13 to 6.74) | 0.04 | |||
| PMS practice* | −0.11 (−0.28 to 0.05) | 0.19 | 0.11 (−0.11 to 0.32) | 0.33 | −3.43 (−8.97 to 2.11) | 0.23 | 1.30 (−1.79 to 4.39) | 0.41 | |||
| Training practice* | 0.14 (−0.01 to 0.29) | 0.07 | −0.02 (−0.22 to 0.18) | 0.85 | 2.83 (−2.30 to 7.96) | 0.28 | −0.38 (−3.23 to 2.47) | 0.79 | |||
| Practice receives dispensing payments* | 0.13 (−0.06 to 0.32) | 0.18 | −0.12 (−0.37 to 0.12) | 0.33 | 4.10 (−2.42 to 10.61) | 0.22 | 0.78 (−2.75 to 4.30) | 0.67 | |||
| Doctor level | |||||||||||
| Male sex* | 0.07 (0.00 to 0.13) | 0.04 | 0.03 (−0.03 to 0.09) | 0.32 | 1.25 (−0.17 to 2.67) | 0.08 | 1.38 (−0.40 to 3.16) | 0.13 | |||
| Years since qualification | 0.00 (0.00 to 0.01) | 0.32 | 0.00 (−0.01 to 0.00) | 0.32 | 0.00 (−0.08 to 0.08) | 1.00 | −0.11 (−0.21 to −0.01) | 0.04 | |||
| UK qualified* | 0.08 (−0.01 to 0.17) | 0.07 | −0.04 (−0.12 to 0.05) | 0.41 | −0.17 (−2.20 to 1.86) | 0.87 | 4.36 (1.81 to 6.90) | <0.001 | |||
| Patient level | |||||||||||
| Age (years) | 0.01 (0.00 to 0.01) | <0.001 | 0.00 (0.00 to 0.00) | 1.00 | 0.09 (0.06 to 0.12) | <0.001 | 0.11 (0.07 to 0.14) | <0.001 | |||
| Male sex* | −0.02 (−0.07 to 0.03) | 0.44 | −0.10 (−0.14 to −0.05) | <0.001 | 1.25 (0.25 to 2.25) | 0.01 | 0.39 (−0.64 to 1.43) | 0.46 | |||
| White ethnicity* | 0.13 (−0.03 to 0.29) | 0.12 | 0.13 (−0.02 to 0.28) | 0.09 | −0.07 (−3.29 to 3.15) | 0.96 | 4.56 (1.25 to 7.87) | 0.01 | |||
| Housing status: owner/occupier* | 0.01 (−0.04 to 0.07) | 0.68 | 0.03 (−0.02 to 0.08) | 0.20 | −1.20 (−2.32 to −0.08) | 0.03 | 1.68 (0.53 to 2.84) | <0.001 | |||
| Employed* | −0.05 (−0.10 to 0.01) | 0.10 | −0.06 (−0.11 to 0.00) | 0.03 | −1.91 (−3.04 to −0.77) | <0.001 | −0.24 (−1.41 to 0.93) | 0.69 | |||
For each outcome measure, higher scores represent greater satisfaction.
GP=general practitioner; PMS=Personal Medical Services; QOF=quality and outcomes framework.
*Binary variable: yes=1, no=0.
†QOF scores were log transformed because of skewed distribution.