Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health

BEACH is the most valid, reliable general practitioner (GP) dataset in Australia, with almost 1.8 million GP-patient encounter records from 1998 to 2016.

About us

BEACH data is used for analyses and reporting on the content of GP-patient encounters. Data linkages between indication and patient management are unique to BEACH, making it an essential information source for research into GP management of specific health problems and for analysing the market to inform pricing and strategy.

The program has generated or contributed to several hundred academic publications and grant applications. It has provided data and reports to industry, government and not-for-profit organisations. It has been used to support health system planning, policy development, development of educational material and to inform marketing and pricing business decisions.

Collect reliable and valid data about general practice which is responsive to the ever-changing needs of information users.
Establish an ongoing database of GP-patient encounter information.
Assess patient-based risk factors and the relationship these factors have with health service activity.
Provide accurate and timely data to a wide variety of users including government bodies, GP organisations, consumers, researchers and the pharmaceutical industry.

Random GP samples were supplied by the Australian Government Department of Health.
Data was collated and processed 50 weeks of the year.
1000 GPs participated each year.
25 new GPs started recording each week and 20 completed recording.
Each GP recorded details on 100 consecutive consultations with consenting patients.
All consultations that resulted in a management action were recorded.

GP and practice characteristics were supplied by each participant including age, gender, years in practice, number of clinical sessions per week, country of graduation, size of practice, computer use, location of practice, and hours worked and on call each week.

The following variables were recorded:

Encounter characteristics: date, how it was paid for, Medicare Benefits Schedule or Department of Veteran Affairs' item numbers (when applicable).
Patient characteristics: age, gender, non-English speaking background status, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status, Health Care Card and Veterans' Affairs status, status to the practice.
Patient reasons for encounter.
Problems managed at the consultation.
Status of each problem to the patient (new/managed before) and whether the problem was work-related.

Management at the encounter for each problem:

Drugs prescribed, over-the-counter advised, drugs supplied by the GP, status of the drug (new, continuation), dosage and regimen.
Other treatments including therapeutic procedures and counselling, referrals to a specialist, referrals to allied health professionals and admissions.
Tests and investigations.
Pathology and imaging ordered at this consultation.

Title : Most valid dataset

Description : Most valid, reliable general practitioner (GP) dataset in Australia

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Title : 1.8 million

Description : Almost 1.8 million GP-patient encounter records from 1998 to 2016

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Benefits of utilising the data

BEACH has a long history of collaborating with researchers from national and international universities. Over 130 analyses have been provided which formed the basis for a number of peer-reviewed publications, grant applications or theses on a wide range of topics. Some examples include:

GP management of:

Intellectual disability
Vertebral compression fractures
Heart failure and multi-morbidity
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Respiratory infections in children under the age of five years
Musculoskeletal conditions in children
Unplanned pregnancy and emergency contraception

Quality indicators such as:

Antibiotics for acute respiratory infections
Lipid medication in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous patients
Steroid injections for tennis elbow

Broader issues such as:

International comparison of prevalence of multi-morbidity
Cost and disease burden of pneumonia
Validation of electronic medical data
Determinants of HIV testing

For many years BEACH was a source of independent GP clinical data that both government and industry could agree on during their negotiations. BEACH delivered over 800 bespoke reports to inform and shape policy decisions by governments and support key business decisions by industry.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee submissions
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme pricing decisions
Changes in GP prescribing patterns
Product information with the prescribed daily dose
Changes in practice in response to changes in health policy
Baseline evidence for change measurement
Evidence of prescribing behaviours for specific medications and conditions or indicators
Other non-medical management of conditions of interest

Publications

BEACH books - General Practice Series

ID	Publication
41	Britt H, Miller GC, Bayram C, Henderson J, Valenti L, Harrison C et. al. A decade of Australian general practice activity 2006-07 to 2015-16. General practice series no. 41. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2016. Download PDF (6MB), purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4
40	Britt H, Miller GC, Henderson J, Bayram C, Harrison C, Valenti L et. al. General practice activity in Australia 2015-16. General practice series no. 40. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2016. Download PDF (9.2MB), Infographic, purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4
39	Britt H, Miller GC, Henderson J, Bayram C, Valenti L, Harrison C et. al. A decade of Australian general practice activity 2005-06 to 2014-15. General practice series no. 39. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2015. Download PDF (9.7MB), Infographic, purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4
38	Britt H, Miller GC, Henderson J, Bayram C, Harrison C, Valenti L et. al. General practice activity in Australia 2014–15. General Practice series no. 38. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2015. Download PDF (8.2MB), purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4
37	Britt H, Miller GC, Henderson J, Bayram C, Valenti L, Harrison C et. al. A decade of Australian general practice activity 2004–05 to 2013–14. General practice series no. 37. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2014. Download PDF (4.6MB), illustrated summary, purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4
36	Britt H, Miller GC, Henderson J, Bayram C, Harrison C, Valenti L et. al. General practice activity in Australia 2013–14. General Practice series no. 36. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2014. Download PDF (6.71 MB), purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4
35	Britt H, Miller CG, Valenti L, Henderson J, Gordon J, Pollack AJ et. al. Evaluation of imaging ordering by general practitioners in Australia, 2002–03 to 2011–12. General practice series no. 35. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2014. Download PDF (4.8MB) , purchase hardcopy, Media release, Appendix 4&5
34	Britt H, Miller GC, Henderson J, Charles J, Valenti L, Harrison C et. al. A decade of Australian general practice activity 2003–04 to 2012–13. General practice series no. 34. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2013. Download PDF (4.4MB) , purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4
33	Britt H, Miller GC, Henderson J, Bayram C, Valenti L, Harrison C et. al. General practice activity in Australia 2012–13. General Practice series no.33. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2013. Download PDF (7.1MB), purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4

ID	Publication
32	Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Henderson J, Valenti L, Harrison C et al. A decade of Australian general practice activity 2002–03 to 2011–12. General Practice Series no. 32. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2012. Download PDF (2.7MB), purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4
31	Britt H, Miller GC, Henderson J, Charles J, Valenti L, Harrison C et al. General practice activity in Australia 2011–12. General Practice Series no. 31. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2012. Download PDF (6.6MB), purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4
30	Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Henderson J, Bayram C, Valenti L et al. A decade of Australian general practice activity 2001–02 to 2010–11. General Practice Series no. 30. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2011. Download PDF (2.6MB), purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4
29	Britt H, Miller G, Charles J, Henderson J, Bayram C, Valenti L et al. General practice activity in Australia 2010–11. General Practice Series no. 29. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2011. Download PDF (5.1MB), purchase hardcopy, Appendix 4
GEP 28	Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Henderson J, Bayram C, Valenti L et al. General practice activity in Australia 2000-01 to 2009-10: 10 year data tables. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2010. Link to Publication.
GEP 27	Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Henderson J, Bayram C, Pan Y et al. General practice activity in Australia 2009-10. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2010. Link to Publication.
GEP 26	Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Henderson J, Bayram C, Valenti L et al. General practice activity in Australia 1999-00 to 2008-09: 10 year data tables. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2009. Link to Publication.
GEP 25	Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Henderson J, Bayram C, Pan Y et al. General practice activity in Australia 2008-09. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2009. Link to Publication.
GEP 24	General practice in Australia, health priorities and policies 1998-2008. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2009. Link to Publication.

ID	Publication
GEP 23	Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Henderson J, Bayram C, Harrison C et al. General practice activity in Australia 1998-99 to 2007-08: 10 year data tables. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2008. Link to Publication.
GEP 22	Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Henderson J, Bayram C, Harrison C et al. General practice activity in Australia 2007-08. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2008. Link to Publication.
GEP 21	Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Bayram C, Pan Y, Henderson J et al. General practice activity in Australia 2006-07. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2008. Link to Publication.
GEP 20	Britt H, Miller GC, Henderson J, Bayram C. Patient-based substudies from BEACH: abstracts and research tools 1999-2006. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2007. Link to Publication.
GEP 19	Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Pan Y, Valenti L, Henderson J et al. General practice activity in Australia 2005-06. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2007. Link to Publication.
GEP 18	Britt H, Miller GC, Knox S, Charles J, Pan Y, Henderson J et al. General practice activity in Australia 2004-05. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2005. Link to Publication.
GEP 17	Knox S, Britt H, Pan Y, Miller GC, Bayram C, Valenti L et al. Locality matters: The influence of geography on general practice activity in Australia 1998-2004. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2005. Link to Publication.
GEP 16	Britt H, Miller GC, Knox S, Charles J, Valenti L, Pan Y et al. General practice activity in Australia 2003-04. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2004. Link to Publication.
GEP 15	Britt H, Miller GC, Knox S, Charles J, Valenti L, Bayram C et al. General practice activity in the states and territories of Australia 1998-2003. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2004. Link to Publication.

ID	Publication
GEP 14	Britt H, Miller GC, Knox S, Charles J, Valenti L, Henderson J et al. General practice activity in Australia 2002-03. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2003. Link to Publication.
GEP 13	Britt H, Knox S, Miller GC. Changes in pathology ordering by GPs in Australia 1998-2001. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2003. Link to Publication.
GEP 12	O'Halloran J, Britt H, Valenti L, Harrison C, Pan Y, Knox S. Older patients attending general practice in Australia 2000-02. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2003. Link to Publication.
GEP 11	Bayram C, Britt H, Kelly Z, Valenti L. Male consultations in general practice in Australia 1999-00. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2003. Link to Publication.
GEP 10	Britt H, Miller GC, Knox S, Charles J, Valenti L, Henderson J et al. General practice activity in Australia 2001-02. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2002. Link to Publication.
GEP 9	Henderson J, Pan Y, Britt H, Charles J, Miller GC, Knox S. Cardiovascular problems and risk behaviours among patients at general practitioner encounters in Australia 1998-00. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2002. Link to Publication.
GEP 8	Britt H, Miller GC, Knox S, Charles J, Valenti L, Henderson J et al. General practice activity in Australia 2000-2001. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2001. Link to Publication.
GEP 7	Britt H, Miller GC, Knox S. Imaging orders by general practitioners in Australia 1999-00. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2001. Link to Publication.

ID	Publication
GEP 6	Britt H, Miller GC, Valenti L. 'It's different in the bush': a comparison of general practice activity in metropolitan and rural areas of Australia 1998-2000. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2001. Link to Publication.
GEP 5	Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Knox S, Sayer GP, Valenti L et al. General practice activity in Australia 1999-2000. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2000. Link to Publication.
GEP 3	Sayer GP, Britt H, Horn F, Bhasale A, McGeechan K, Charles J et al. Measures of health and health care delivery in general practice in Australia. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2000. Link to Publication.
GEP 4	Britt H, Miller GC, McGeechan K, Sayer GP. Pathology ordering by general practitioners in Australia 1998. Canberra: Department of Health and Aged Care; 1999. Link to Publication.
GEP 2	Britt H, Sayer GP, Miller GC, Charles J, Scahill S, Horn F et al. General practice activity in Australia 1998-99. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 1999. Link to Publication.
GEP 1	Britt H, Sayer GP, Miller GC, Charles J, Scahill S, Horn F et al. BEACH Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health: A study of general practice activity, six-month interim report. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 1999. Download PDF (20KB)

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Contact us

Email
christopher.harrison@sydney.edu.au