TY - JOUR T1 - Representation of homeless persons and coding of homelessness in general practices: descriptive evaluation using healthcare utilisation data JF - BJGP Open JO - BJGP Open DO - 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0050 SP - BJGPO.2021.0050 AU - Rishika Kaushal AU - Parbir Jagpal AU - Saval Khanal AU - Neha Vohra AU - Richard Lowrie AU - Jaspal Johal AU - Duncan Jenkins AU - Karen Saunders AU - Vibhu Paudyal Y1 - 2021/05/26 UR - http://bjgpopen.org/content/early/2021/05/27/BJGPO.2021.0050.abstract N2 - Background Epidemiological studies focused on primary healthcare needs of persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) are often based on data from specialist homeless healthcare services.Aim The aim of this study is to explore the presentation of PEH, coding of homelessness and associated health conditions in mainstream primary care general practices in England.Design & setting EMIS electronic database search of medical records was conducted across 48 general practices in a Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), representing one of the most socioeconomically deprived regions in England, which also lacks a specialist primary healthcare service for PEH.Method Key terms and codes were used to identify PEH, their respective diagnoses across 22 health conditions and prescribed medications over the past 4 years.Results From a population of approximately 321,000, 43 (0.013%) persons were coded as PEH compared to a homelessness prevalence of 0.5% in the English general population. Mental health conditions were the most prevalent diagnoses amongst the PEH registrants (62.3%); the recorded prevalence of other common long-term conditions in PEH was lower than the levels observed in PEH registered with specialist homelessness health services.Conclusion In a population with approximately four times higher rate of statutory homelessness, PEH representation in mainstream general practices was underrepresented by several folds. As homelessness overlaps with mental health, substance misuse and long term health conditions, consistent coding of homelessness in medical records is imperative to offer tailored support and prevention actions when patients present for services. ER -