Researchers from Johns Hopkins University Report New Studies and Findings in the Area of Family Medicine (Family practice and the quality of primary…

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University Report New Studies and Findings in the Area of Family Medicine (Family practice and the quality of primary care: a study of Chinese patients in Guangdong Province)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at China Weekly News -- Fresh data on Health and Medicine are presented in a new report. According to news reporting originating in Baltimore, Maryland, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, "In 2009, China launched its new round of health care reform. One of its priorities was to strengthen primary care and establish a family practice system."

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Johns Hopkins University, "This study examined the relationship between use of family practice physician for primary care and the quality of primary care. Eight health care organizations were sampled from three cities in Guangdong Province, China. One thousand six hundred and forty five patients of age 18 and older who visited one of the study sites as their usual source of primary care were systematically selected and surveyed using Johns Hopkins China-validated Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT). Analyses were performed to compare the quality of primary care experienced between patients who contracted for family practice services and those who did not. Total PCAT score as well as scores in first contact-access, continuity, comprehensiveness and coordination domains were higher among patients who contracted with family practice services, compared to those who did not. In addition, patients who sought care through family practice services reported greater satisfaction with their care experience."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "This study provided evidence that family practice has the potential to provide higher-quality primary care, which may encourage patients to seek family practice physicians for their primary care needs, and help family practitioners better perform gatekeeping functions."

For more information on this research see: Family practice and the quality of primary care: a study of Chinese patients in Guangdong Province. Family Practice, 2015;32(5):557-563. Family Practice can be contacted at: Oxford Univ Press, Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England. (Oxford University Press - www.oup.com/; Family Practice - fampra.oxfordjournals.org)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting L. Kuang, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg Sch Public Hlth, Dept. of Hlth Policy & Management, Primary Care Policy Center, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States. Additional authors for this research include Y. Liang, J. Mei, J.G. Zhao, Y.T. Wang, H.L. Liang and L.Y. Shi.

Keywords for this news article include: Asia, China, Maryland, Baltimore, United States, Health and Medicine, North and Central America

Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2015, NewsRx LLC