Implementing relational continuity in general practice-understanding who needs it, when, to what extent, how and why: a realist review protocol.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Relational continuity of care (RCC) refers to the sustained therapeutic relationship between a patient and a clinician, which fosters trust, enhances communication and facilitates the accumulation of knowledge about the patient. RCC is associated with enhanced patient outcomes, reduced hospital admissions, lower mortality rates, decreased healthcare costs and improved patient experience. Despite these benefits, reorganisations within the NHS and workforce challenges have led to an increased reliance on multidisciplinary and part-time working, resulting in fragmented care and a decline in RCC. Our study aims to explore who needs RCC, under what circumstances, to what extent and why, with the goal of informing optimal implementation strategies.

Methods and analysis

SUBMITTER: Tzortziou Brown V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12421597 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature