2026-04-17T05:46:52Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:11351/66162025-10-24T10:20:06Zcom_2072_378070com_2072_378040col_2072_378092

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Mora, Núria author Peremiquel Trillas, Paula author Benítez, Mència author Méndez, Leonardo author Mercadé, Albert author Coma, Ermengol author 2021-11-29T08:50:18Z 2021-11-29T08:50:18Z 2021-03-25 Recerca en serveis sanitaris; Relació pacient-metge; Gestió de la salut de la població Investigación de servicios de salud; Relación médico-paciente; Gestión de la salud de la población Health service research; Patient-physician relationship; Population health management Background There is evidence that an ongoing patient-physician relationship is associated with improved health outcomes and more efficient health systems. The main objective of this study is to describe the continuity of care in primary healthcare in Catalonia (Spain) and to analyze whether the organization of primary care practices (PCP) or their patients’ sociodemographic characteristics play a role in its continuity of care. Methods Four indices were used to measure continuity of care: Usual Provider Index (UPC), Modified Modified Continuity Index (MMCI), Continuity of Care Index (COC), and Sequential Continuity Index (SECON). The study was conducted on 287 PCP of the Catalan Institute of Health (Institut Català de la Salut—ICS). Each continuity of care index was calculated at the patient level (3.2 million patients and 35.5 million visits) and then aggregated at the PCP level. We adjusted linear regression models for each continuity index studied, considering the result of the index as an independent variable and demographic and organizational characteristics of the PCP as explanatory variables. Pearson correlation tests were used to compare the four continuity of care indices. Results Indices’ results were: UPC: 70,5%; MMCI: 73%; COC: 53,7%; SECON: 60,5%. The continuity of care indices had the highest bivariate correlation with the percentage of appointments booked with an assigned health provider (VISUBA variable: the lower the value, the higher the visits without an assigned health provider, and thus an organization favoring immediate consultation). Its R2 ranged between 56 and 63%, depending on the index. The multivariate model which explained better the variability of continuity of care indices (from 49 to 56%) included the variables VISUBA and rurality with a direct relationship; while the variables primary care physician leave days and training practices showed an inverse relationship. Conclusion Study results suggest that an organization of primary care favoring immediate consultation is related to a lower continuity of patient care. http://hdl.handle.net/11351/6616 Atenció primària - Catalunya Demografia - Catalunya HEALTH CARE::Health Services Administration::Patient Care Management::Comprehensive Health Care::Primary Health Care PUBLIC HEALTH::Population Studies in Public Health::Demography Catalonia ATENCIÓN DE SALUD::administración de los servicios de salud::gestión de la atención al paciente::atención integral de salud::atención primaria de la salud SALUD PÚBLICA::Estudios Poblacionales en Salud Pública::demografía Cataluña Influence of organization and demographic characteristics of primary care practices on continuity of care: analysis of a retrospective cohort from 287 primary care practices covering about 6 million people in Catalonia