Quality Of Primary Care From Patients’ Perspective

Abstract

Background: Accessible and high-quality primary health care (PHC) is fundamental to countries moving towards universal health coverage. In order to improve the quality of patient-centered care provided in PHC, a comprehensive understanding of patients’ values is crucial to address any gaps in the health care system. Assessing patients’ experience with primary care complements measures of clinical health outcomes in evaluating service performance. This study aims to investigate patients’ experience with primary care and to identify associated patients’ socio-demographic, healthcare and health characteristics. Methods: A cross sectional study design using questionnaires administered in public primary care facilities in Makkah, KSA. Data on patients’ primary care experience and their socio-demographic, healthcare and health characteristics were collected through face to face interviews using a validated version of the primary care assessment tool (PCAT). Mean scores were derived for the following dimensions: first contact access, continuity of care, comprehensiveness, community orientation and total primary care. Linear regression models were used to assess association between primary care dimension scores and patients’ characteristics. Resu[1]lts: From 631 completed questionnaires, first contact access, relational continuity and comprehensiveness of services available scored below the defined minimum. Sex, self-rated health status, duration of contact with facility and facility affiliation were associated with patients’ experience with primary care. These factors explained 10.9% of the variance in total primary care scores; 25.2% in comprehensiveness of services available and 29.4% in first contact access. Conclusion: This results from the first use of the validated PCAT. The study provides a baseline indicating areas that need improvement. The results can also be used alongside clinical outcome studies to provide comprehensive evaluation of primary care performance.