Continuity of care is associated with satisfaction with local health care services
Abstract Background Satisfaction is a major element in assessing quality of care. It has decreased in Finland in recent decades as well as continuity of care. We investigated which demographic, health-related, and local health care service factors, especially continuity of care, are associated with...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2020-09-01
|
| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-020-01251-5 |
| _version_ | 1811327068206530560 |
|---|---|
| author | E. Lautamatti M. Sumanen R. Raivio K. J. Mattila |
| author_facet | E. Lautamatti M. Sumanen R. Raivio K. J. Mattila |
| author_sort | E. Lautamatti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Satisfaction is a major element in assessing quality of care. It has decreased in Finland in recent decades as well as continuity of care. We investigated which demographic, health-related, and local health care service factors, especially continuity of care, are associated with the population’s satisfaction with local health care services. Methods The data are part of the Health and Social Support (HeSSup) study’s follow-up questionnaire in 2012. The study is based on a random Finnish population sample. Satisfaction was studied based on the question “How satisfied are you with your local health care services?” Demographic factors, obesity, self-assessed health status, depressive mood (BDI-12 questionnaire), New York Heart Association class, and chronic diseases were asked in the questionnaire. Questions describing local health care services were also presented. We assessed the association of an assigned and named GP and the respondents’ proactivity in contacting the same doctor with satisfaction. We used crosstabulation and binary logistic regression in the analyses. Results The Health and Social Support study was answered in 2012 by 15,993 participants (45.4%) and majority (61.3%) was satisfied with their local health care services. An assigned and named GP (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.67–1.92) and the respondent’s proactivity in contacting the same doctor (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.15–1.32) were associated with satisfaction in the adjusted multivariate analysis. BDI score < 19 had the strongest association with satisfaction (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.65–2.23). Older participants, males, and those in a relationship were more likely to be satisfied. Conclusions A named GP in primary care proved to have a positive correlation with patient satisfaction. Depression was associated with decreased satisfaction. A named GP indicates continuity of care, and it should be seriously considered when planning treatment for patients with chronic conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:00:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-76475c69040342b98b633bc8a2a4d5b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:00:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-76475c69040342b98b633bc8a2a4d5b92022-12-22T02:42:19ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962020-09-0121111110.1186/s12875-020-01251-5Continuity of care is associated with satisfaction with local health care servicesE. Lautamatti0M. Sumanen1R. Raivio2K. J. Mattila3Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere and Centre for General Practice of the Pirkanmaa Hospital DistrictFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere and Centre for General Practice of the Pirkanmaa Hospital DistrictPäijät-Häme Joint Authority for Health and Wellbeing, Primary Health CareFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere and Centre for General Practice of the Pirkanmaa Hospital DistrictAbstract Background Satisfaction is a major element in assessing quality of care. It has decreased in Finland in recent decades as well as continuity of care. We investigated which demographic, health-related, and local health care service factors, especially continuity of care, are associated with the population’s satisfaction with local health care services. Methods The data are part of the Health and Social Support (HeSSup) study’s follow-up questionnaire in 2012. The study is based on a random Finnish population sample. Satisfaction was studied based on the question “How satisfied are you with your local health care services?” Demographic factors, obesity, self-assessed health status, depressive mood (BDI-12 questionnaire), New York Heart Association class, and chronic diseases were asked in the questionnaire. Questions describing local health care services were also presented. We assessed the association of an assigned and named GP and the respondents’ proactivity in contacting the same doctor with satisfaction. We used crosstabulation and binary logistic regression in the analyses. Results The Health and Social Support study was answered in 2012 by 15,993 participants (45.4%) and majority (61.3%) was satisfied with their local health care services. An assigned and named GP (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.67–1.92) and the respondent’s proactivity in contacting the same doctor (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.15–1.32) were associated with satisfaction in the adjusted multivariate analysis. BDI score < 19 had the strongest association with satisfaction (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.65–2.23). Older participants, males, and those in a relationship were more likely to be satisfied. Conclusions A named GP in primary care proved to have a positive correlation with patient satisfaction. Depression was associated with decreased satisfaction. A named GP indicates continuity of care, and it should be seriously considered when planning treatment for patients with chronic conditions.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-020-01251-5Primary health carePopulation-basedPatient satisfactionContinuity of careDepressionHealth care services |
| spellingShingle | E. Lautamatti M. Sumanen R. Raivio K. J. Mattila Continuity of care is associated with satisfaction with local health care services BMC Family Practice Primary health care Population-based Patient satisfaction Continuity of care Depression Health care services |
| title | Continuity of care is associated with satisfaction with local health care services |
| title_full | Continuity of care is associated with satisfaction with local health care services |
| title_fullStr | Continuity of care is associated with satisfaction with local health care services |
| title_full_unstemmed | Continuity of care is associated with satisfaction with local health care services |
| title_short | Continuity of care is associated with satisfaction with local health care services |
| title_sort | continuity of care is associated with satisfaction with local health care services |
| topic | Primary health care Population-based Patient satisfaction Continuity of care Depression Health care services |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-020-01251-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elautamatti continuityofcareisassociatedwithsatisfactionwithlocalhealthcareservices AT msumanen continuityofcareisassociatedwithsatisfactionwithlocalhealthcareservices AT rraivio continuityofcareisassociatedwithsatisfactionwithlocalhealthcareservices AT kjmattila continuityofcareisassociatedwithsatisfactionwithlocalhealthcareservices |