The role of family medicine in improvising efficiency, equity and quality of primary healthcare services. Is it significant?

Wan Puteh Sharifa Ezat, Supasit Pannarunothai, Mohd Ismail Nurul Azwa, Ahmad Nurmawati

Abstract


Primary care is a critical component of any healthcare system and a multiplicity of studies has demonstrated that primary care improves individual and population health outcomes. The provision of more effective and equitable healthcare to populations can be provided through an established primary care system, which is delivered and strengthened by the role of the family medicine specialist. The objective of our study is to describe the rationale for considering family medicine as an essential component of primary healthcare, to provide evidence of its efficiency, equitability and quality, with a practical consideration of its implementation by providing examples from various countries. We conclude that family medicine as an important component in any primary healthcare system and that it is vital to increasing the person-centeredness of individual and population care.


Keywords


Family medicine specialist, family doctor, primary care, equity, efficacy, quality of care

References


Ahn, S.H. (2001). Assessment of primary care level in Korea and comparison with the developed countries. Journal of Korean Academic Family Medicine 22 (4) 483-497.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2008). The World Health Report 2008: Primary Health Care: Now More Than Ever. World Health Organization, Geneva. Available at: www.who.int/ whr/2008/whr2008_en.pdf. Accessed 24 Aug 2014.

Phua, K.H. & Chew, A.H. (2002). Towards a comparative analysis of health systems reforms in the Asia-Pacific region. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health 14, 9-16.

Starfield B. (2008). Primary Care: Balancing Health Needs, Services, and Technology. New York: Oxford University Press.

Hays, R., Pong, L.T. & Leopando, L. (2012). Primary care in the Asia-Pacific region: challenges and solutions. Asia Pacific Family Medicine 11 (8) 1-2.

Crisp N. (2010). Turning the World Upside Down: the search for global health in the twenty-first century. London: Royal Society of Medicine Press.

Hays R.B. & Morgan S. (2011). Australian and overseas models of general practice training. Medical Journal of Australia 194 (11) 63-66.

Prueksaritanond S. & Tuchinda P. (2001). General practice residency training program in Thailand: past, present, and future. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 84, 1153-1157.

Osman, H., Romani, M. & Hlais, S. (2011). Family medicine in Arab countries. Family Medicine 43, 37-42.

Wun, Y.T., Lam, T.P., Lam, K.F., Li, D.K. & Yip K.C. (2011). Family medicine training in Hong Kong: similarities and differences between family and non-family doctors. Hong Kong Medical Journal 17, 47-53.

Stigler, F., Starfield, B., Sprenger, M., Salzer, H. & Campbell S. (2013). Assessing primary care in Austria: room for improvement. Family Practice 30 (2) 185-189.

Sloane, D.S., Slatt, L.M. & Curtis, P. (1993). Essentials of Family Medicine (2nd edn.) pp. 3-8. Baltimore/London: Williams and Wilkins.

McWhiney, L.R. 1989. A textbook of family medicine, (2nd edn), pp. 1-25. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Ping, C., Whynes, D.K. & Sach, T.H. (2011). Reform towards National Health Insurance in Malaysia : The equity implications. Health Policy 100 (2-3) 256-263.

Macinko, J., Starfield, B. & Shi L. (2003). The Contribution of Primary Care Systems to Health Outcomes within Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Countries, 1970-1998. Health Services Research 38, 831-865.

Atun, R. (2004). What are the advantages and disadvantages of restructuring a health care system to be more focused on primary care services? WHO Regional Office for Europe’s Health Evidence Network (HEN).

Filmer, D., Pritchet, L. & Hammer, J. (2000). Weak Links in the Chain: A Diagnosis of Health Policy in Poor Countries. World Bank Research Observer 15 (2) 199-224.

De Maeseneer, J.M. & De Sutter, A. (2004). Why Research in Family Medicine? A Superfluous Question. Annals of Family Medicine 2, 16-22.

Gill, J.M., Mainous, 3rd, A.G., Diamond, J.J. & Lenhard, M.J. (2003). Impact of Provider Continuity on Quality of Care for Persons with Diabetes Mellitus. Annals of Family Medicine 1 (3) 162-170.

Saultz, J.W. & Lochner, J. (2005). Interpersonal Continuity of Care and Care Outcomes: A Critical Review. Annals of Family Medicine 3, 159-166.

Starfield, B., Shi L. & Macinko, J. (2005). Contribution of Primary Care to Health Systems and Health. Milbank Quarterly 83, 457-502.

Engstrom, S., Foldevi, M. & Borqquist, B. (2001). Is General Practice Effective? A Systematic Literature Review. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Care 19, 131-144.

Wong, S.Y., Kung, K., Griffiths, S.M., Carthy, T., Wong, M.C., Lo, S.V., Chung, V.C., Goggins, W.B. & Starfield, B. (2010). Comparison of primary care experiences among adults in general outpatient clinics and private general practice clinics in Hong Kong. BMC Public Health 10, 397.

Hong Kong: HKSAR Government, Food and Health Bureau. (2008). Your health, your life. Healthcare reform consultation document.

Baker, R. (2000). Managing quality in primary health care: the need for valid information about performance. Quality in Health Care 9 (2) 83.

Baicker, K. & Chandra, A. (2004). Medicare spending, the physician workforce, and beneficiaries’ quality of care. Health Affairs (Millwood) Supplement Web Exclusives W4 184-197.

Ferrer, R.L. (2007). Pursuing equity: contact with primary care and specialist clinicians by demographics, insurance, and health status. Annals of Family Medicine 5 (6) 492-502.

Shi, L., Starfield, B., Politzer, R. & Regan, J. (2002). Primary care, self-rated health, and reductions in social disparities in health. Health Services Research 37 (3) 529-550.

Li, D. (2003). Primary care in Hong Kong. Asia Pacific Family Medicine 2, 2-4.

Campbell, R.J., Ramirez, A.M., Perez, K. & Roetzheim, R.G. (2003). Cervical cancer rates and the supply of primary care physicians in Florida. Family Medicine 35, 60-64.

Greenfield, S., Nelson, E.C., Zubkoff, M., Manning, W., Rogers, W., Kravitz, R.L., Keller, A., Tarlov, A.R. & Ware, Jr., J.E. (1992). Variations in resource utilization among medical specialties and systems of care. Results from the medical outcomes study. Journal of the American Medical Association 267, 1624-1630.

Cheng, T.M. (2003). Taiwan’s new national health insurance program: genesis and experience so far. Health Affairs 22, 61-76.

Jenna, T., Shi, L., Yu, W.L., Hung, L.M. & Lebrun, L.A. (2010). Physician Specialty and the Quality of Medical Care Experiences in the Context of the Taiwan National Health Insurance System. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 23 (3) 402- 412.

Juhyun, L., Park, S., Choi, K. & Kwon, S.M. (2010). The Association Between the Supply of Primary Care Physicians and Population Health Outcomes in Korea. Family Medicine 42 (9) 628-635.

Wong, T.Y., Cheong, S.K., Koh, G.C. & Goh, L.G. (2008). Translating the family medicine vision into educational programmes in Singapore. Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 37 (5) 421-425.

Prabhakaran, L., Vasu, A.,Yian, T.S., Abisheganaden, J., Meiyi, W. & Mun, W.W. (2012). The Current Care Delivery Practice for Asthma at the Emergency Department in a Tertiary Hospital in Singapore. Journal of Asthma & Allergy Educators 4 (1) 15-21.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2007). Country Health System Profile. Thailand. www.searo.who.int/EN/Section313/Section1525_ 10871.htm. Accessed 22Aug 2014.

Jaturapatporn, D. & Dellow, A. (2007). Does Family Medicine training in Thailand affect patient satisfaction with primary care doctors? BMC Family Practice 8,14.

Pongsupap, Y. & Lerberghe, W.V. (2006). Patient Experience With Self-Styled Family Practices And Conventional Primary Care In Thailand. Asia Pacific Journal of Family Medicine 5 (1).

Rohde, J., Cousens, S. & Chopra, M., Tangcharoensathien, V., Balck, R., Bhutta, Z.A. & Lawn, J.E. (2008). Alma-Ata: Rebirth and Revision 4, 30 years after Alma-Ata: Has primary health care worked in countries. Lancet 372, 950-961.

Safurah, J., Kamaliah, M.N., Khairiyah, A.M., Nour Hanah O. & Healy, J. (2013). Malaysia Health System Review. Health Systems in Transition 3(1).

Ang, K.T., Rohani, I. & Look, C.H. (2010). Role of Primary Care Providers in Dengue Prevention and Control in the Community. Medical Journal of Malaysia 65 (1) 58-62.

Tan, C.E., Radzniwan, R.M., Khairani, O. & Ednin, H. (2011). Palliative Care For A Child: Role Of A Primary Care Doctor. Malaysian Family Physician 6 (1) 26-28.

Aznida, F.A.A., Nor Azlin, M.N., Noor, A.A., Suhazeli, A., Saperi, S. & Syed, M.A. (2014). Care for post-stroke patients at Malaysian public health centres: self-reported practices of family medicine specialists. BMC Family Practice 15, 40.

Ambigga, D., Suthahar, A., Ramli, A.S., Ng, K.K., Rashid, R.A. & Marymol, K. (2011). Diagnosis and management of mild cognitive impairment in the community: what is the role of primary care physician? Malaysian Family Physician 6 (2&3) 74-78.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5750/ejpch.v4i2.1089

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.