Table 2. Associations between implementation activities and patients having spirometry performed
Single-handedPartnership
n (%)OR adjusted (95% CI)n (%)OR adjusted (95% CI)
Meeting structure
Scheduled meetings
No
Yes
 
1296 (49.6)
2343 (54.5)
 
1
1.09 (0.89 to 1.33)
 
796 (54.1)
12 671 (55.3)
 
1
1.00 (0.82 to 1.22)
Interdisciplinary meetings
Monthly or rarer
Weekly
 
1903 (53.2)
423 (60.3)
 
1
1.20 (0.89 to 1.61)
 
8863 (54.8)
3808 (56.7)
 
1
1.12 (1.00 to 1.25)b
GP meetingsa
Monthly or rarer
Weekly
 
801 (51.0)
285 (56.2)
 
1
1.40 (1.00 to 1.96)
 
6773 (53.6)
5898 (57.4)
 
1
1.15 (1.04 to 1.27)b
Educational meetings
Monthly or rarer
Weekly
 
1924 (53.9)
402 (57.0)
 
1
1.06 (0.79 to 1.43)
 
9928 (54.8)
2743 (57.6)
 
1
1.05 (0.92 to 1.20)
Formalised meetings
No
Yes
 
1817 (54.8)
509 (52.9)
 
1
0.85 (0.65 to 1.10)
 
6998 (55.1)
5673 (55.7)
 
1
1.00 (0.90 to 1.11)
Standardised processes of care
Practice protocols
Few/none at all
In a range of disease areas
 
2100 (50.5)
1481 (55.3)
 
1
1.13 (0.93 to 1.37)
 
3670 (50.3)
9783 (57.4)
 
1
1.29 (1.15 to 1.43)c
Standard laboratory requisition formulas
Few/none at all
In a range of disease areas
 
1459 (48.5)
2122 (55.4)
 
1
1.28 (1.06 to 1.55)b
 
2054 (52.7)
11 399 (55.8)
 
1
1.13 (0.99 to 1.29)
Standard recordings in the EMR
Few/none at all
In a range of disease areas
 
2324 (51.3)
1257 (54.6)
 
1
1.02 (0.84 to 1.25)
 
6017 (53.6)
7436 (56.7)
 
1
1.14 (1.03 to 1.26)b
Task differentiation among GPs
Formal agreementa
Informal/no
Yes
 
1073 (50.7)
296 (49.7)
 
1
0.99 (0.71 to 1.39)
 
7795 (54.1)
5658 (56.9)
 
1
1.10 (1.00 to 1.23)
  • ORs are adjusted for practice characteristics (GPs’ age and sex, status as training practice, task delegation to practice staff) and patient characteristics (age, sex, income, highest attained education, labour market affiliation, cohabitation status, and severity of disease). 

  • aGPs in single-handed practices were only asked these questions if they had reported being in collaboration with other practices. b P<0.05. c P<0.001. EMR = electronic medical record. OR = odds ratio.