Considerations for conducting a young person's health assessment in the general practice setting: Insights from key informants in Victoria.

Background And Objectives: There have been calls for a Medicare Benefits Schedule rebate to support a young person's health assessment in general practice. The aim of this study was to understand Victorian providers' needs and perspectives about implementing young people's health assessments in general practice.

Method: Focus groups and interviews were conducted over Zoom with current general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses (PNs) and practice managers (PMs). A qualitative descriptive approach and conventional content analysis were used.

Results: Two focus groups and five interviews were conducted between September and November 2021. Participants (11 GPs, nine PNs and three PMs) represented metropolitan (n = 11), regional (n = 10) and rural (n = 2) Victoria. Key facilitators to implementing a young person's health assessment included established clinic systems and staff roles as well as the potential to empower young people. Key barriers included scheduling logistics and billing structures.

Discussion: Key informants generated substantive stakeholder perspectives to aid planning and implementing young people's health assessments in general practice.