Sharing general practice data: a qualitative study with Australian general practitioners.
8 affiliations
- 1Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values, School of Social Science, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. [email protected].
- 2Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values, School of Social Science, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
- 3Torrens University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
- 4Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- 5Population Health Research Network, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
- 6Health Consumers NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- 7Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Data and Analytics Branch, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
- 8Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Primary Care Strategy Branch, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
Background
The increasing demand for access to general practice data for research and policy development presents ethical challenges for Australian general practitioners (GPs), particularly around patient consent, privacy, and trust. As frontline custodians of patient information, GPs must navigate the tension between supporting public benefit and upholding their professional obligations to confidentiality and autonomy.Methods
This qualitative study involved interviews with 19 Australian GPs who reported limited experience with secondary use of general practice data. Participants were recruited via professional networks and interviewed using open-ended questions informed by prior community jury recommendations. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo 12, with an ethical lens applied to identify key themes related to trust, consent, and data governance.Results
GPs expressed broad support for using general practice data in research but emphasised the centrality of trust in the doctor-patient relationship. Most participants preferred an opt-in consent model, citing transparency and respect for patient autonomy. Concerns were raised about privacy breaches, re-identification risks, and the ethical implications of remuneration. Organisational constraints, such as time pressures and limited decision-making authority within practices, were identified as barriers to implementing ethical data-sharing practices.Conclusion
Australian GPs are pivotal in shaping ethical and effective models for data sharing in general practice. However, substantial policy, educational, and ethical work is needed to address their concerns. Building trust, ensuring transparency, and respecting patient autonomy are essential to securing GP support for routine data collection. A collaborative approach involving government, community, and general practice stakeholders is necessary to develop acceptable and sustainable data-sharing frameworks.
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BibTeX
@article{green2026sharing,
title = {{Sharing general practice data: a qualitative study with Australian general practitioners.}},
author = {Heidi Green and Justin Beilby and Carolyn Adams and Alberto Nettel-Aguirre and Felicity Flack and Anthony Brown and Allison Clarke and Christian Jung and Belinda Fabrianesi and Lucy Carolan and Annette Braunack-Mayer},
journal = {BMC primary care},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12875-026-03490-4},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902184},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sharing general practice data: a qualitative study with Australian general practitioners.
AU - Heidi Green
AU - Justin Beilby
AU - Carolyn Adams
AU - Alberto Nettel-Aguirre
AU - Felicity Flack
AU - Anthony Brown
AU - Allison Clarke
AU - Christian Jung
AU - Belinda Fabrianesi
AU - Lucy Carolan
AU - Annette Braunack-Mayer
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC primary care
DO - 10.1186/s12875-026-03490-4
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902184
AB - Background The increasing demand for access to general practice data for research and policy development presents ethical challenges for Australian general practitioners (GPs), particularly around patient consent, privacy, and trust. As frontline custodians of patient information, GPs must navigate the tension between supporting public benefit and upholding their professional obligations to confidentiality and autonomy.Methods This qualitative study involved interviews with 19 Australian GPs who reported limited experience with secondary use of general practice data. Participants were recruited via professional networks and interviewed using open-ended questions informed by prior community jury recommendations. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo 12, with an ethical lens applied to identify key themes related to trust, consent, and data governance.Results GPs expressed broad support for using general practice data in research but emphasised the centrality of trust in the doctor-patient relationship. Most participants preferred an opt-in consent model, citing transparency and respect for patient autonomy. Concerns were raised about privacy breaches, re-identification risks, and the ethical implications of remuneration. Organisational constraints, such as time pressures and limited decision-making authority within practices, were identified as barriers to implementing ethical data-sharing practices.Conclusion Australian GPs are pivotal in shaping ethical and effective models for data sharing in general practice. However, substantial policy, educational, and ethical work is needed to address their concerns. Building trust, ensuring transparency, and respecting patient autonomy are essential to securing GP support for routine data collection. A collaborative approach involving government, community, and general practice stakeholders is necessary to develop acceptable and sustainable data-sharing frameworks.
SN - 2731-4553
ER -