Data from: Improving access and continuity of care for homeless people: how could general practitioners effectively contribute? results from a mixed study.

Objectives: To analyze the views of general practitioners (GPs) about how they can provide care to homeless people (HP) and to explore which measures could influence their views. Design: Mixed-methods design (qualitative –> quantitative (cross-sectional observational) qualitative). Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews; quantitative data were collected through questionnaires with closed questions. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistical analyses on SPPS; a content analysis was applied on qualitative data. Setting: primary care; views of urban GPs working in deprived area in Marseille were explored by questionnaires and/or semi-structured interview. Participants: 19 GPs involved in HP’s healthcare were recruited for phase 1 (qualitative); for phase 2 (quantitative), 150 GPs who provide routine health care (“standard” GPs) were randomized, 144 met the inclusion criteria and 105 responded the questionnaire; for phase 3 (qualitative), data were explored on 14 “standard” GPs. Results: In quantitative phase, 79% of the 105 GPs already treated HP. Most of the difficulties they encountered treating HP concerned social matters (mean level of perceived difficulties = 3.95/5, IC95 [3.74-4.17]), lack of medical information (mn=3.78/5, IC95 [3.55-4.01]patient’s compliance (mn=3.67/5, IC95 [3.45-3.89]), loneliness in practice (mn=3.45/5, IC95 [3.18-3.72]) and time required for doctor (mn=3.25, IC95 [3-3.5]. From qualitative analysis we understood that maintaining a stable follow-up was a major condition for GPs to contribute effectively to the care of HP. Acting on health system organization, developing a medical and psychosocial approach with closer relation with social workers and enhancing the collaboration between tailored and non-tailored programs were also other key answers. Conclusion: If we adapt the conditions of GPs practice, they could contribute to the improvement of HP’s health. These results will enable the construction of a new model of primary care organization aiming to improve access to health care for HP