Table 2

Practice characteristics including planned and actual process for delivering care to patients

Practice*Randomised group†Approximate list size and full time equivalent (FTE) GPsSampling (initial change in prescribing and size)Overall high-risk prescribing rate at baseline‡The process for delivering the intervention to patients, both planned by the practice and actual (based on interview and observational data)
Orosay210 000
6.5 FTE
Not reducing
Large
6.6Failure to legitimise and no process to implement agreed, but the most engaged GP said there was some change in clinical practice
Boreray106500
3.5 FTE
Not reducing
Large
2.5Initially agreed to divide the work between GPs, but failed to implement because of understaffing/prioritisation of clinical work
Hellisay93000
1.9 FTE
Not reducing
Small
7.0Initially agreed that one GP would review, but actually divided the work. Staff changes meant they could not maintain reviewing
Mingulay39000
5 FTE
Not reducing
Large
3.2Initially agreed that one GP would review all patients in set 2 hours/month. This was inadequate, and poor GP to GP communication further reduced impact
Gighay72500
1.9 FTE
Not reducing
Small
3.4Initially agreed that one GP would review all patients and flag notes for when next seen, so relied on patient consulting and other GPs acting on the flag
Lingay43000
2 FTE
Not reducing
Small
5.0Initially agreed to divide the work, but did not implement; one GP systematically and enthusiastically reviewed after a delay
Scalpay63000
2 FTE
Reducing
Small
3.7Did not agree process at EOV, but rapid implementation of one GP systematically reviewing all patients
Hirta85500
4.3 FTE
Reducing
Large
4.2Initially agreed to divide the work and rapidly delivered by all GPs initially reviewing. Once initial bulk of reviews done, one GP maintained reviewing
Monach13500
2.7 FTE
Reducing
Small
7.1Initially agreed to divide the work, but actually rapid implementation by one GP doing all the reviewing
Taransay56000
4 FTE
Reducing
Large
3.7Initially agreed to divide the work, with rapid implementation by all GPs carrying out the reviewing
  • *Ordered from top to bottom in terms of the practices judged from qualitative analysis to have been the least (top) to most (bottom) successful implementers.

  • †Practice group in terms of when started the intervention (1= first group to start, 10= last group to start).

  • ‡Mean practice rate of high-risk prescribing in the 2 years before starting the intervention.