Continuity of care in general practice: a survey of patients' views.

TLDR

Patients value continuity differently across health problems and patient types, and young healthy individuals may view it differently than older chronic patients, yet this variation is poorly understood. The study aimed to explore patients’ views on continuity of care in general practice and how these views relate to patient characteristics. The authors surveyed 25 patients from each of 35 Dutch general practices via postal questionnaire, achieving a 74 % response rate. Patients rated continuity as most important for serious conditions (up to 96 %) and least for minor issues (21 %), citing the GP’s superior knowledge and personal understanding; regression analysis showed only 10–12 % of the variance was explained by age, sex, or visit frequency, underscoring that the seriousness of the condition drives continuity preferences.

Abstract

It is not known how patients value continuity for different health problems. In addition, it is not clear how different types of patients value continuity. It has been argued, for example, that young and healthy individuals have different ideas about continuity from older people with chronic illnesses. More extensive exploration of patients' views and expectations on personal continuity is important as this may help to organise general practice better in the future.To explore patients' views on continuity of care in general practice and their relations to patient characteristics.Postal questionnaire survey.Thirty-five general practices throughout The Netherlands.A sample of 25 patients from each practice was sent a questionnaire.The response rate was 644/875 (74%). The percentage of patients feeling that it was important to see their personal doctor varied, from 21% for a splinter in the eye, to 96% for discussing the future when seriousy ill. The main reasons for preference of their own general practitioners (GPs) were the GP's assumed better medical knowledge of the patient and understanding of the personal and family background. Multiple linear regression analysis (GLM) showed that patient characteristics could explain 10% to 12% of the variance in these views on personal continuity.The importance that patients attach to continuity of care depends on the seriousness of the conditions/facing them. Patients in The Netherlands desire a high level of personal care for serious conditions. Patient characteristics, such as age, sex, and frequency of visits to the GP influence views on continuity of care only to a minor extent.