Lay summary
Over 90% of New Zealand healthcare interactions occur in primary care, but 16% of patients are harmed by the care they receive. Patient harms cost everyone; patients, their whanau, workplaces and the health system. We propose to develop and trial a New Zealand General Practice Trigger Tool (NZGPTT), to alert clinicians when patients are at increased risk of harm, based on their age, sex, ethnicity, social deprivation level, pre-existing medical conditions, medications and type of practice providing their care. It will operate in real-time, embedded within the patient management system. The NZGPTT will be a clinician decision-support tool and patient communication aide which empowers shared decision-making by comparing treatment risks and benefits. It will be designed to try and achieve equitable health outcomes by identifying those at greatest risk of harm. By promoting patient health literacy and reducing harm, the NZGPTT can help improve the health of all New Zealanders.