Irish general practitioners’ perspectives on integrated care and research priorities following health system reform: a mixed-methods study

Purpose Integrated care aims to improve continuity and coordination across health services. However, the interface between general practice, community services and hospital care remains challenging in many health systems. This study gathered Irish general practitioners' (GPs) perspectives on the current state of integrated care following recent health system reforms and identified priority areas for future research. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods sequential explanatory study was conducted involving a cross-sectional survey and semi-structured interviews with GPs practising in the Republic of Ireland. The survey captured data on practice characteristics, perceptions of primary–secondary care integration and the research priorities in primary care. Additionally, semi-structured interviews qualitatively explored experiences and suggestions on improving integration. Findings Fifty-seven GPs from 17 counties responded, with a median practice size of 5,000 patients; 72% reported a mixed public–private patient population. Most practices were in urban or mixed settings (87%). Nearly all GPs (93%) identified improving primary–secondary care integration as a research priority, though the majority perceived current integration with hospitals and community services as poor. Top research priorities included chronic disease management, population health, mental health, acute care, healthcare access and clinical trials. Qualitative analysis highlighted barriers in digital information exchange, unclear responsibilities, limited time for collaboration and the need for population health–focussed, patient-centred integrated care models. Originality/value This study provides the first geographically diverse post-reform examination of Irish GPs’ perspectives on integrated care and related research priorities following implementation of major health system reforms. The findings identify persistent implementation gaps between national policy objectives and frontline practice, while informing future integrated-care research and service development in Irish primary care.