Keywords: Home visits, General practitioners, Primary care, Qualitative study, Aging population

Background:

Home visits will continue to represent a historical component of primary care. In the current context, the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) aims to strengthen home-based care, with the target of reaching at least 10% of the population aged 65 years and over. However, despite population ageing and the expected increase in the need for home care, the number of home visits performed by general practitioners (GPs) seems to be declining in Italy, in line with the trend observed in other European countries.

Research questions:

This study will aim to explore, through a qualitative approach, the main factors that may contribute to the reduction in home visits, by investigating GPs’ perceptions, experiences, and representations of the role and meaning of home visits in the current context.

Method:

A qualitative study based on focus groups will be conducted. Two comparable focus groups will be organized, one in Verona and one in Turin, each including 8–10 GPs selected through purposive sampling to ensure representation by sex, age group, and practice setting (urban and rural). The focus groups will be conducted using a shared semi-structured topic guide, moderated by experienced researchers, and will be analyzed using thematic analysis to identify relevant categories and interpretative dimensions.

Results:

The analysis is expected to identify a plurality of factors influencing the provision of home visits, encompassing clinical, relational, organizational, and ethical dimensions. Both converging and divergent themes are anticipated to emerge between the two territorial contexts, highlighting tensions between care needs, organizational sustainability, and ongoing changes in the role of the GP.

Conclusions:

This study will contribute to an in-depth understanding of the factors underlying the decline in home visits, in a context characterized by increasing care needs and policy objectives aimed at strengthening home-based care under the NRRP.

Points for discussion:

This study will contribute to an in-depth understanding of the factors underlying the decline in home visits, in a context characterized by increasing care needs and policy objectives aimed at strengthening home-based care under the NRRP.

Extending the study to include patients’ perspectives could allow a comparison between professionals’ views and users’ expectations and needs, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the role of home visits and informing strategies to improve home-based care.