Waris Qidwai, Javeria Rehman, Maria Khan, Syed Iqbal Azam.
Continuity of patient care among family practice patients at a teaching hospital.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;15(10):646-7.

A crosssectional analytical study was conducted at the Family Practice Center of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, in June 2004. On an average, 150 family practice patients with primary care level problems were seen daily by 12 family physicians. A questionnaire was developed by the principal investigator after extensive literature search including input from colleagues and patients. It was administered in English and Urdu, depending on patient`s comfort and ability. A pilot study was conducted before the start of the administration of final questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered in the waiting area outside the physician`s office, prior to the consultation. Ethical requirement including the administration of written informed consent and the provision of confidentiality were ensured. Patients were interviewed based on their availability and convenience. One hundred patients were interviewed. The mean age of the study population was 37.94 years, majority of the subjects being females with 48% respondents having graduate or more education. Only 30% and 32% respondents were willing to consult a family physician in frequency and period respectively, as per physician`s advice. Thirtynine percent respondents were willing for four weeks follow-up care only, while 45% were not willing to follow-up with physician after resolution of medical problem. Seventy percent respondents reported chances of changing their physicians as unlikely during treatment, however, 58% were found to have sometime changed their physicians. Ninetyfive percent respondents desired to seek treatment from one physician while 97% considered continuity of patient care as necessary. Further studies and intervention strategies are recommended regarding patient`s education and physician`s responsibilities for the improvement of continuity of patient care.

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