Identifying patterns in primary care consultations: a cluster analysis

Background A literature review revealed that little is known about the systems context of general practice consultations and their outcomes. Objectives To describe the systems context and resulting underlying patterns of primary care consultations in a local area. Design Cross‐sectional multi‐practice study based on a three‐part questionnaire. Cluster analysis of data. Setting Stratified random sample of general practices and general practitioners – NSW‐Central Coast, Australia. Participants A total of 1104 adults attending 12 general practitioners between February and November 1999. Results and Conclusions The study identified seven subgroups within the study population uniquely defined by variables from the health system, individual doctor and patient, consultation and consultation outcomes domains. A systems approach provides a framework in which to track and consider the important variables and their known and/or expected workings and thus offer a contextual framework to guide primary care reform.