Work

Checklists for emergencies in general practice: participatory design of a quick reference handbook

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Emergency presentations in general practice are increasing, yet teams may go months without managing one. Cognitive aids, such as checklists, improve in-hospital emergency care, but existing tools are poorly suited to general practice. AIM: To identify common emergency presentations in general practice and co-design bespoke checklists for safer management. DESIGN & SETTING: Participatory design of general practice-specific emergency checklists and usability testing in real clinical settings with multidisciplinary general practice teams. METHOD: A multidisciplinary expert group used a mixed-methods participatory methodology to prioritise emergencies and develop checklists for a GP Quick Reference Handbook (GP-QRH). In-situ simulations in 29 general practices informed iterative refinement of checklist content, layout, and usability. RESULTS: The final GP-QRH comprised 15 clinical emergency checklists, one checklist for non-clinical staff, a structured handover template, and emergency debrief guidance. Testing the final version in 11 general practices was uniformly positive and emphasised the importance of simple design, clear language, prominent prompts for escalation, and team training in checklist use. CONCLUSION: We have developed the first QRH for general practice specifically tailored to primary care, co-designed with intended users. Its impact will depend on commitment to consistent use, local leadership, and advocacy across GP networks. Further usability testing, evaluation of clinical impact, and development of additional checklists are needed, but the GP-QRH has the potential to enhance emergency care and patient safety in UK general practice and internationally.

Source: BJGP Open

DOI: 10.3399/bjgpo.2025.0268