Table 2 Main datasets and variables used in the simulation model for the GP workforce
Module | Dataset | Organisation | Description and scope of dataset | Variables used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Training | Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) programme | General Practice Education and Training (GPET) Ltd. | Up until December 2015, GPET managed the Australian General Practice Training programme which is the largest GP training programme in Australia with 1 200 positions available nationally in 2014 and increasing to 1 500 in 2015. The programme is funded by the Australian Government, and places are allocated to regional training providers across the country. Selection and subsequent allocation of registrars is undertaken nationally. GPET maintained data on all registrars enrolled in the training programme from 2002 to 2015. | Training places and enrolments by state; Graduate numbers by agea and sex |
Supply | Medical Labour Force Surveys (custom data) | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) | The AIHW has undertaken Medical Labour Force Surveys in Australia since 1997. These surveys collect information on the demographic and employment characteristics of all medical practitioners in Australia who were registered at the time of the survey. | Number of GPs—agea, sex, location (rural or urban) and work status (full-time or part-time) |
GP workforce statistics | Australian Government Department of Health (Medicare) | Claims data collected by Medicare Australia is also used to report on the Australian GP workforce, and these are available annually. Data is provided on the number of GPs by state, age, sex and work status. | Number of GPs—agea, sex, location (rural or urban), type and work status (full-time or part-time) | |
International medical graduates | Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (RDWA) | The RDWA is based in South Australia and is one of seven rural workforce agencies in Australia funded by the Department of Health. The core activities of the agency are recruitment, support services and workforce planning for rural and remote communities. The RDWA manages the recruitment of GPs to rural and remote communities, and they undertake a survey of all rural and remote GPs in SA every 3 years. This survey includes information on the characteristics of the GPs, working hours and retention issues. | Number of IMGs—agea, sex, work status (full-time or part-time) | |
Work and productivity | Medicare Australia and Department of Veteran Affairs | Family Medicine Research Centre, University of Sydney | A random sample of approximately 1 000 GPs participating in the programme in 2006. | GP utilisation rates—agea and sex |
Need | Burden of Disease study | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare | The Burden of Disease and Injury in Australia study [32] published in 2007 was a comprehensive assessment of the health status of Australians. The study measured mortality, disability, impairment, illness and injury arising from 176 diseases, injuries and risk factors using a common metric, the disability-adjusted life year or DALY, and methods developed by the Global Burden of Disease Study. Annexes to the report provide data on a number of measurements including incidence and prevalence, and these were used for this study. | Prevalence cases and incidence cases by agea and sex |
SA population projections | Australian Bureau of Statistics | The ABS is Australia’s national statistical agency. It provides statistics on a number of key indicators such as housing, economy, environment and energy. It also manages and analyses the Australian Census of Population and Housing every 5 years. It also provides population projections at a national and regional level. | Agea and sex | |
Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH)—GP activity (customised data) | Family Medicine Research Centre, University of Sydney | The BEACH Program is a continuous national study of GP activity in Australia which commenced in 1998. Each year, a random sample of approximately 1 000 GPs participates in the programme. They record information on 100 consecutive patient encounters [46]. The source population for sampling includes all vocationally registered GPs and all general practice registrars in Australia who claimed a minimum of 375 Medicare general practice items of service in the most recently available 3-month Medicare data period. The data used was a weighted sub-sample of SA GPs in 2003. | Problems managed by SA GPs by agea and sex | |
GP attendances | Medicare Australia | Medicare Australia data includes services that qualify for a Medicare Benefit under the Health Insurance Act 1973 and for which a claim has been processed by the Department of Human Services. Its cover includes data on services provided by all active Australian medical practitioners eligible for claiming medical benefits. | Unreferred attendances by Broad Type of Services for SA by agea and sex |