Korean J Fam Pract.  2022 Jun;12(3):151-157. 10.21215/kjfp.2022.12.3.151.

Effects of the Regular Doctor on Preventive Health Care

• No NR
• Jung CW
• Jung SY
• Chung YJ
• Kim SC
• Lim HS

• KMID: 2530656
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2022.12.3.151

Abstract

Background
In primary health care, the usual source of care is a crucial concept related to inclusiveness and coordinative functions, as well as initial contact and consistency. This study aimed to analyze the effects of regular doctors and usual sources of care on preventive healthcare and vaccination, and to show their importance in preventative healthcare.
Methods
To analyze the effects of usual sources of care on preventive health care, data from 63,623 cases from the Korean Medical Panel Survey (2012– 2018) were analyzed. A logistic regression analysis was performed using the within-between random effect (REWB) model to control omitted variable bias, and between and within effects of regular doctors on preventive healthcare were analyzed.
Results
The inter-individual effect of regular doctors on preventive health care was significantly high (odds ratio [OR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21–1.53), and the within-individual effect of regular doctor was not statistically different (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.98–1.13). In other words, those who visited regular doctors received more preventive health care services compared to those who did not.
Conclusion
Regular doctors play a critical role in primary health care and are important in preventive health care. It is necessary to strengthen primary health care by introducing the regular doctor system.

Keyword

Usual Source of Care; Regular Doctor; Vaccination; Preventive Health Service