View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

What makes patients in primary care complex? A scoping review combined with a focus group analysis.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: What makes patients in primary care complex? A scoping review combined with a focus group analysis.
Authors: Braspenning, Jozé (AUTHOR), van den Kieboom, Rachel (AUTHOR), Bischoff, Erik W.M.A. (AUTHOR), Hietland, Kirsten (AUTHOR), Vissers, Kris (AUTHOR), Schoon, Yvonne (AUTHOR)
Source: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. Dec2025, Vol. 43 Issue 4, p786-794. 9p.
Subjects: Medical information storage & retrieval systems, Health literacy, Health services accessibility, Medical quality control, Focus groups, Qualitative research, Social determinants of health, Primary health care, Patient care, Psychological well-being, Systematic reviews, MEDLINE, Attitudes of medical personnel, Medical databases, Online information services, Comorbidity, Integrated health care delivery
Geographic Terms: Netherlands
Abstract: Background: Consultations can be challenging because of patient complexity, affecting care quality. Patient complexity involves factors related to the patient, healthcare professional, organization, and healthcare system. A comprehensive overview of these factors and their significance to healthcare providers is lacking. The aim of this study was to create a literature overview and to examine how the results relate to the experiences of primary care providers. Methods: The PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched (2018–2023) to conduct a scoping review. In addition, a focus group was organized with healthcare providers from general practices (a) to discuss the results of the review, and (b) to explore its meaning in daily consultation, based on the real-life patient cases they presented. Results: The review (171 unique studies) mainly revealed patient-related factors (medical, social and behavioural aspects). Complexity arises when multiple aspects are present and mutually interact. Factors related to the expertise of healthcare professionals, the organization (care coordination) and the system (availability of resources, navigation problems) were also identified. The focus group recognized the factors that influenced patient complexity and their interdependence. They noted a need for support in identifying and treating the patient population in question across disciplines. Conclusions: A comprehensive overview of factors influencing patient complexity at four different levels (patient, professional, organization, system) is provided. The primary care providers suggested disseminating these results to customize treatment to the needs of patients, which is likely to require coordination across disciplines and integrated care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 189410517
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: What makes patients in primary care complex? A scoping review combined with a focus group analysis.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Braspenning%2C+Jozé%22">Braspenning, Jozé</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22van+den+Kieboom%2C+Rachel%22">van den Kieboom, Rachel</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bischoff%2C+Erik+W%2EM%2EA%2E%22">Bischoff, Erik W.M.A.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hietland%2C+Kirsten%22">Hietland, Kirsten</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vissers%2C+Kris%22">Vissers, Kris</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Schoon%2C+Yvonne%22">Schoon, Yvonne</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Scandinavian+Journal+of+Primary+Health+Care%22">Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 43 Issue 4, p786-794. 9p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+information+storage+%26+retrieval+systems%22">Medical information storage & retrieval systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+literacy%22">Health literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+services+accessibility%22">Health services accessibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+quality+control%22">Medical quality control</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Focus+groups%22">Focus groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+determinants+of+health%22">Social determinants of health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Primary+health+care%22">Primary health care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient+care%22">Patient care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+well-being%22">Psychological well-being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Systematic+reviews%22">Systematic reviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22MEDLINE%22">MEDLINE</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes+of+medical+personnel%22">Attitudes of medical personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+databases%22">Medical databases</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Online+information+services%22">Online information services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Comorbidity%22">Comorbidity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Integrated+health+care+delivery%22">Integrated health care delivery</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Netherlands%22">Netherlands</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Consultations can be challenging because of patient complexity, affecting care quality. Patient complexity involves factors related to the patient, healthcare professional, organization, and healthcare system. A comprehensive overview of these factors and their significance to healthcare providers is lacking. The aim of this study was to create a literature overview and to examine how the results relate to the experiences of primary care providers. Methods: The PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched (2018–2023) to conduct a scoping review. In addition, a focus group was organized with healthcare providers from general practices (a) to discuss the results of the review, and (b) to explore its meaning in daily consultation, based on the real-life patient cases they presented. Results: The review (171 unique studies) mainly revealed patient-related factors (medical, social and behavioural aspects). Complexity arises when multiple aspects are present and mutually interact. Factors related to the expertise of healthcare professionals, the organization (care coordination) and the system (availability of resources, navigation problems) were also identified. The focus group recognized the factors that influenced patient complexity and their interdependence. They noted a need for support in identifying and treating the patient population in question across disciplines. Conclusions: A comprehensive overview of factors influencing patient complexity at four different levels (patient, professional, organization, system) is provided. The primary care providers suggested disseminating these results to customize treatment to the needs of patients, which is likely to require coordination across disciplines and integrated care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=189410517
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/02813432.2025.2507278
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 9
        StartPage: 786
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Medical information storage & retrieval systems
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Health literacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Health services accessibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical quality control
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Focus groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social determinants of health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Primary health care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patient care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological well-being
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Systematic reviews
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: MEDLINE
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attitudes of medical personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical databases
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Online information services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Comorbidity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Integrated health care delivery
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Netherlands
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: What makes patients in primary care complex? A scoping review combined with a focus group analysis.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Braspenning, Jozé
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: van den Kieboom, Rachel
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Bischoff, Erik W.M.A.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hietland, Kirsten
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Vissers, Kris
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Schoon, Yvonne
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 02813432
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 43
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
              Type: main
ResultId 1