Box 1.

Task categories pre-programmed into Work Observation Method by Activity Timing (WOMBAT) time-motion software²⁴ and used by observers to classify observed activities

Primary task categories (at least one option mandatory, multiple options possible)	Definition	Subgroup activity (at least one option mandatory if associated main activity chosen, multiple options possible)
Direct care	Patient care/clinical work that GPs do for a patient when that patient is in the consultation room or on the phone	Preparing to see patient(s) Calling in patient History Examination Prescribing Documenting/updating electronic health record Explaining/two-way planning Telephoning Telephone consultation Procedure Psychosocial discussion Order bloods/do referral letters
Clinical paperwork	Patient care/clinical work that GPs do when they are not in direct contact with a patient	Reviewing bloods Prescribing Writing letters Reading letters Checking emails Actioning tasks Chasing up test results/letters
Interactions with colleagues	In-person communication with colleagues in the practice	About patients About processes About other
Internet use	GP uses internet to seek work-related information to facilitate their own work or support a consultation with a patient	Seeking information for referral, such as the GP looking up information on local services, or other internet searching to meet their own educational needs Supporting consultation such as signposting the patient to local services, showing patient websites or images related to their condition
Operational failures and interruptions	Problems in work-system design that resulted in GPs being less effective than they otherwise might have been, including problems in the supply of information, equipment, or materials to GPs, or situations where an interruption interfered with a completion of a task	Unexpected incoming phone calls Looking for missing equipment/materials Technology problems People coming into the consultation room unasked Requiring input from other members of the practice team to solve problems in task completion
Home visits	Home visits out of surgery to a patient’s home	Not applicable (note: in almost all observations, home visits were not observed or recorded in time–motion software)