Patient and professional views of open access hysterosalpingography for the initial management of infertility in primary care.
BACKGROUND
Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is recommended as a first-line investigation for tubal assessment of infertile women. This investigation is not routinely available to GPs.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the perceptions and attitudes of patients and health professionals to open access HSG for the initial management of infertile couples in general practice.


METHODS
A nested qualitative study using in-depth interviews with GPs, fertility specialists, and infertile couples.


METHODS
Northumberland, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, and Gateshead.


METHODS
Participants were 39 interviewees: 12 GPs, five fertility specialists, and 13 infertile couples (nine interviewed with their partner).


RESULTS
Four themes emerged: personal factors; will it benefit patients, GPs, and fertility specialists?; professional factors; does it fit the role of a GP?; local context; do the skills exist in general practice?; and wider context; will it benefit the NHS? GPs who had used open access HSG, felt it was appropriate for general practice and would continue to use the service. All GPs, fertility specialists, and infertile couples who had experienced open access HSG wished the service to remain in place. The main barriers to its uptake were: infrequency with which infertility presents; lack of clarity on perceived responsibilities; difficulty keeping up to date, including assimilating guidelines; low clinical priority; and lack of support in authoritative guidance.


CONCLUSIONS
Providing GPs with open access to HSG would allow a full initial assessment of the infertile couple and refer women with blocked tubes directly to tertiary care. While there is general support for the provision of such a facility, the majority of GPs perceive its use as being by a limited number of GPs who have a special interest in infertility. The study findings can inform future development of infertility services at the interface between primary and secondary/tertiary care.
Wilkes
Scott
S
Centre for Primary and Community Care, School of Health Natural and Social Sciences, University of Sunderland. scott.wilkes@sunderland.ac.uk
Rubin
Greg
G
Crosland
Ann
A
Hall
Nicola
N
Murdoch
Alison
A
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010819:Physician's Role; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic