‘It gives a sense of purpose’ - exploring GP registrars’ views on relational continuity of care: a survey

Background Relational continuity of care has been shown to improve patient outcomes and clinician satisfaction. However, little is known about how GP registrars, the future workforce in general practice, experience this continuity, especially in the context of evolving workforces and increasing use of remote consultations.

Aim This study aimed to explore GP registrars’ views on relational continuity of care and identify personal, training, and practice factors that may influence these views, including the impact of digital/remote consulting.

Design & Setting A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among GP registrars in the West Midlands, England. The survey explored registrars' experiences and attitudes towards relational continuity, including the impact of remote consulting.

Method The survey combined Likert-scale and multiple-choice questions with free-text responses. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics with logistic regression to identify personal and training factors that might influence views. Content analysis was used for qualitative data.

Results 246 responses were received (estimated 14.5% response rate). Registrars valued relational continuity, particularly for patients with long-term conditions. Barriers such as rotational training, high workload, and limited appointment access were reported. Remote consulting was seen as challenging for building relationships but helpful for follow-up encounters. Few personal or training factors influenced views on relational continuity.

Conclusion Despite significant barriers, GP registrars highlighted the importance of relational continuity for patient care and clinician satisfaction. Further research is needed to explore how training models impact continuity, and how training and remote consulting can support the experience of relational continuity in practice.