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CHAPTER TWO RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & SAMPLE PROFILE

Methodology

2.1 Given the nature of the objectives and target audience for the research, an in-home omnibus approach was considered to be the most appropriate methodology, with mruk's in-home Scottish Omnibus being utilised.

2.2 It is called an Omnibus as it runs at predetermined intervals (in this case monthly), allowing potential clients to 'add' questions to the survey as and when required.

2.3 An omnibus allows multiple clients at any given time to buy as much or little questionnaire space as needed, but share the costs of fieldwork and analysis. Although this makes it a very cost effect research method, the sample profile of demographics is set to be representative of the population. As a consequence, the resultant profile is not necessarily reflective of an organisations target audience.

2.4 In order to gather views on what issues are of greatest importance when visiting / using GP services, respondents were asked to provide a ranking of items across a number of categories that relate to patients' experience of GP practices, covering:

• Contacting the GP surgery
• Visiting the GP surgery
• Seeing a Health Professional
• Talking to a Health Professional
• Prescribing of medicines

2.5 Within each of these categories respondents were asked to rank how important a range of items were by indicating which they considered to be most important, of 2 ^nd most importance and of least importance (see questions Q6 - Q10 in Annex 1).

2.6 Findings from each of the above categories are detailed below in Chapter 3.

2.7 As is standard with mruk's Scottish in-home omnibus, 1,040 in-home interviews were conducted with adults across Scotland aged 16+ years. In order to ensure a representative geographical spread, a total of 52 constituency based sampling points were selected. Interviewing was conducted on a random route basis within each of the sampling points, with quotas being established for age, gender, socio-economic group and area (North, East, and West) in order to ensure a representative spread of the population. Only 1 interview was conducted per household. All interviews were conducted by mruk's own IQCS (Interviewer Quality Control Scheme) accredited fieldforce.

2.8 All data analysis was conducted by our in-house data analysis team based in our Glasgow office with the data being subject to a range of logic checks to ensure its validity.

2.9 Fieldwork for the research was carried out from the 8th to the 14th of August 2008.

Sample Profile

2.10 Consistent across all waves of mruk's omnibus, the sample was structured to be representative of the Scottish population in terms of age, socio-economic group, geographic area and gender. The quotas set on each of the aforementioned are detailed in Table 2.1 below, along with a breakdown of employment status and housing tenure ².

Table 2.1: Summary of Sample Profile for August 2008 Omnibus

Base: 1040
Source: mruk research, August 2008

2.11 It should be noted that the above demographic structures are captured as standard across each wave of research and are not subject to change.

2.12 Variations across the above demographic types have been noted throughout this report where relevant to do so.

Additional Demographic Information Gathered

2.13 In order to allow for more insightful analysis pertinent to the experiences of GP practice care, a series of additional demographic questions were asked.

Presence of a long term condition, illness or disability (self-classification by respondents)

2.14 In order to aid the analysis process and provide context to the research findings it was important to ascertain what proportion of respondents considered themselves to have a long term condition, illness, or disability, resulting in regular contact with the NHS. It should be noted that responses to this question were 'self classified'.

Figure 2.1: Respondents with a long term condition, illness or disability that requires them to have regular contact with the NHS

Base: 1040
Source: mruk research, August 2008

2.15 Almost 3 in 10 (29%) respondents considered themselves to have a long term condition, illness or disability which means they have regular contact with the NHS. Those self-classifying themselves as having such a condition were more likely to be older (65+ yrs - 53%) and more frequent users of GP surgeries (49% having visited in last month, 83% of those having contacted surgery 10 or more times in last year claiming to have a long term condition or illness).

2.16 In addition, almost 1 in 10 (7%) stated they were "limited a lot" in day to day activities due to a health problem or disability which has lasted at least 12 months.

Whether respondents were a parent or carer

2.17 It was also considered important that the research ascertain usage of GP surgeries in the role as a carer / parent, to ascertain what influence, if any, this has on issues considered important when using GP surgeries.

Figure 2.2: Whether the respondent is a carer and if so, who for

Base: 1040
Source: mruk research, August 2008

2.18 Just over a fifth (21%) of respondents were a parent or carer to a child under 16 years old, with 3% caring for a sick / incapacitated adult and 2% an elderly person.

Last visit to GP Surgery or Health Centre

Figure 2.3: Last visit to GP Surgery or Health Centre (for oneself)

Base: 1040
Source: mruk research, August 2008

2.19 All respondents were asked a series of questions about their overall use of GP surgeries ³. As part of this series of questions, respondents were asked when they last visited their GP Surgery for their own care.

2.20 Four in ten (43%) had visited their GP Surgery or Health Centre within the last month, with almost a fifth in total having visited within the last week.

2.21 Those visiting in the last week (18%) were more likely to have a long term illness or disability resulting in regular contact with the NHS (37%), be unemployed (25%), and be 'frequent users' having contacted their GP surgery 10 or more times in the last year (39%).

2.22 A large proportion (83%) had experience of the surgery in the course of the last year. Only a minority (5%) had not visited their surgery in respect of their own health in over 5 years. The majority of respondents therefore had recent experience on which to base what was important to them when visiting / using GP services.

Figure 2.4: Last visit to GP Surgery or Health Centre as a parent or carer

Base: 261 (respondents who are parents/carers)
Source: mruk research, August 2008

2.23 Respondents who had visited their GP surgery as a parent or carer (25%) were asked when they had last contacted the surgery in this role. Almost two thirds (64%) had visited in this role in the last 6 months. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this additional role does appear to be influencing frequency of contacting GP surgeries, however consideration should be given to sample sizes across demographic groups here.

Frequency of contact with GP surgery

Figure 2.5: Number of times have contacted GP Surgery in last year

Base: 867 (all those who have visited GP surgery themselves / with someone in the last year)
Source: mruk research, August 2008

2.24 All respondents who had visited their GP or Health Centre in the last year, either for themselves or as a parent or carer, were asked how many times they had contacted their GP surgery over this period.

2.25 Just over a fifth (21%) of respondents had contacted their surgery once, with almost double this amount (40%) having contacted their surgery 2-4 times.

2.26 Males were more likely to have contacted their GP or Health Centre just the once in the last year (29%), as were people in employment (30%) and those from the AB socio-economic groups (34%).

2.27 Those who had contacted their surgery more than 10 times in the last year were more likely to have long term condition, health problem or disability (30% - Q2 Annex 1), signifying their increased need for such a service, be over the age of 65 years (17%) and be from the DE socio-economic grouping (18%).

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