Table 1.

Principal components analysis with oblimin rotation: items and factor loadings (n = 2481)

Question (5‐point response scale: 1 = not at all important–5 = extremely important)	Factor loading	Response % 4 or 5
Factor 1: Care quality
The GP gives me sufficient information on my condition and treatment options	0.87	91.2
The GP listens and explains the diagnosis and treatment clearly	0.86	91.6
The GP involves me in discussions about my treatment	0.85	90.4
The GP will conduct a thorough physical examination when necessary	0.82	88.9
The GP offers treatments proven to achieve results	0.82	88.8
The consultations with the GP are long enough to deal with my needs	0.77	90.3
I can see the same GP each time and she or he knows my medical history	0.72	84.6
I can see the GP of my choice	0.59	83.8
The practice is clean, and the staff are friendly	0.58	91.1
The GP has easy access to my computerized medical records	0.57	83.2
Factor 2: Types of services
The practice offers allied health services (such as physiotherapy)	0.81	39.2
The practice offers complementary and alternative health care (such as acupuncture)	0.79	33.1
The practice offers specialist nurses (such as diabetes care)	0.74	42.9
The practice offers home GP visits	0.70	37.2
I can choose whether to see the GP, GP assistant or practice nurse	0.67	51.6
The practice offers on‐site pharmacy and pathology services	0.66	49.8
The GPs in the practice have special expertise (e.g. women's health, child health)	0.64	57.1
The practice offers alternatives to doctor face‐to‐face consultations (e.g. phone, email)	0.40	31.2
Factor 3: Availability
I can make appointments out of hours (i.e. night, weekends, holidays)	0.70	52.8
I can make an appointment online	0.66	30.6
The practice provides urgent care out of hours (i.e. night, weekends, holidays)	0.60	57.6
The practice sends appointment reminders by phone/text/email	0.58	37.0
I can make a same day appointment	0.54	70.6
I can make an appointment to see a GP at a time of day that suits me	0.45	80.9
Factor 4: Cost
It costs very little to travel to each appointment	0.87	68.3
The practice is nearby	0.82	78.0
The practice offers bulk billinga	0.54	81.9
The doctor sees me promptly at the appointed time	0.46	77.5
The practice staff deal with the Medicare forms and I do not need to make a claim	0.44	82.0
The practice staff tell me whether the doctor is running late for my appointment when I arrive	0.40	80.0
Factor 5: Practice characteristics
The practice has more than one GP	0.68	68.9
The waiting room is comfortable	0.60	70.6
The practice is part of a larger medical group	0.56	29.7
There is parking nearby	0.50	79.0
The practice is accredited	0.43	74.8
There is public transport nearby	0.41	42.1

^aBulk billing means no patient co‐payment.