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ToolsKaushal, Rishika, Jagpal, Parbir, Khanal, Saval, Vohra, Neha, Lowrie, Richard, Johal, Jaspal, Jenkins, Duncan, Saunders, Karen and Paudyal, Vibhu (2021) Representation of persons experiencing homelessness and coding of homelessness in general practices: Descriptive evaluation using healthcare utilisation data. BJGP Open, 5 (4). ISSN 1849-5435
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Abstract
Background: Epidemiological studies focused on primary healthcare needs of persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) are often based on data from specialist homeless healthcare services. Aim: To explore the presentation of PEH, coding of homelessness, and associated health conditions in mainstream primary care general practices in England. Design & setting: EMIS electronic database search of medical records was conducted across 48 general practices in a clinical commissioning group (CCG), representing one of the most socioeconomically deprived regions in England, which also lacks a specialist primary healthcare service for PEH. Method: Key terms and codes were used to identify PEH, their respective diagnoses across 22 health conditions, and prescribed medications over the past 4 years. Results: From a population of approximately 321 000, 43 (0.013%) people were coded as PEH, compared with a homelessness prevalence of 0.5% in the English general population. Mental health conditions were the most prevalent diagnoses among the PEH registrants (56.6%); the recorded prevalence of other common long-term conditions in PEH was lower than the levels observed in PEH registered with specialist homelessness health services. Conclusion: In a population with approximately four times higher rate of statutory homelessness, PEH representation in mainstream general practices was under-represented by several folds. As homelessness overlaps with mental health, substance misuse, and long-term health conditions, consistent coding of homelessness in medical records is imperative in order to offer tailored support and prevention actions when patients present for services.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Funding Information: This study was funded by the University of Birmingham. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | england,general practice,homeless persons,homelessness,primary health care,family practice,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2714 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Apr 2023 14:30 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Feb 2025 11:23 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/91809 |
| DOI: | 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0050 |
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