J Korean Acad Fam Med.  1997 Jul;18(7):731-738.

The factors influencing the continuity of patient care in family practice

• Jung HJ
• Lee GY
• Park TJ
• Kim BS
• Han EJ
• Bak JJ
• Bae KS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Continuity is very important in primary care, and in most studies continuous care has been reported to have a good effect on the result of care. So we studied the factors influencing the continuity of patient care by physician in charge, especially in case of out-patient department in a university hospital.
METHODS
We posed questionnaires to 55 persons who had visited continually to Paik Hospital in Pusan for at least 6 months. We classified them into three groups according to the degree of continuity using 'Modified Continuity Index', and compared the lower group (18 patients) with the higher group(18 patients).
RESULTS
The incame of the higher continuity group was significantly less than that of the lower continuity group(P=0.042). But there were no significant differences between the two groups according to sex, age, the type of family, marital status, job and the level of education. The higher continuity group agreed more significantly than the lower continuity group with the question whether it is important to be treated continually from physician in charge(P=0.005). About the reasons for visiting to other doctors instead of the physician in charge, most of them in both group replied that they could not keep appointment. And there were no significant differences in the care pattern of disease between the groups.
CONCLUSIONS
To improve the continuity of patient care by physician in charge, it is necessary to instruct the importance of continuous care to the patients and to motivate them through various methods.

MeSH Terms

Busan
Continuity of Patient Care*
Education
Family Practice*
Humans
Marital Status
Outpatients
Primary Health Care
Surveys and Questionnaires