ArticlePrimary health care research & development2019
Are people's health care needs better met when primary care is strong? A synthesis of the results of the QUALICOPC study in 34 countries.
Article in Primary health care research & development, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Patient-reported experiences and patient-reported experience measures in primary care, home care, and community settings. A scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2026Pooled it
- Frequency of clinical conditions suitable for point-of-care ultrasound and comparison of patient management plans among ultrasound users and non-users in Danish general practice.BMC primary care · 2026Article
- Pathways for enhancing service capability of primary healthcare institutions: a dynamic qualitative comparative analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Measuring the strength of primary care: development of a new system of Structural Indicators for the Strength of Primary Care - SiSPC.Primary health care research & development · 2025Article
- Working life expectancy of physicians: the case of primary care physicians in Czechia.Human resources for health · 2025Article
- Navigating the patient experience in primary healthcare clinics in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia: a secondary analysis study.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
- Colorado integrated behavioral health plus (CIBH+): aligning behavioral health within a generalist approach to primary care.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- International cross-cultural development and field testing of the primary care practice questionnaire for the PaRIS survey (PaRIS-PCPQ).BMC primary care · 2024Article
- Does workforce explain the relationship between funding and patient experience? A mediation analysis of primary care data in England.BMJ open · 2024Article
- "The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2023Article
- Primary and Community Care Transformation in Post-COVID Era: Nationwide General Practitioner Survey.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Inequality in households' access to primary health care (PHC): a case study in Kerman, southeast Iran.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- A qualitative study of challenges affecting the primary care system performance: Learning from Iran's experience.Health science reports · 2022Article
- Translating Planetary Health Principles Into Sustainable Primary Care Services.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
- Evaluation of primary care services in Hungary: a comprehensive description of provision, professional competences, cooperation, financing, and infrastructure, based on the findings of the Hungarian-arm of the QUALICOPC study.Primary health care research & development · 2021Article
- Article
- Job satisfaction of general practitioners: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries.Human resources for health · 2021Article
- Patient satisfaction and loyalty in Japanese primary care: a cross-sectional study.BMC health services research · 2021Article
- Recruitment and participation of a survey in a public-private primary care setting: experience from the QUALICOPC Malaysia.Primary health care research & development · 2020Article
- Improving Equity Through Primary Care: Proceedings of the 2019 Toronto International Conference on Quality in Primary Care.Annals of family medicine · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimThis article synthesises the results of a large international study on primary care (PC), the QUALICOPC study.
backgroundSince the Alma Ata Declaration, strengthening PC has been high on the policy agenda. PC is associated with positive health outcomes, but it is unclear how care processes and structures relate to patient experiences.
methodsSurvey data were collected during 2011-2013 from approximately 7000 PC physicians and 70 000 patients in 34, mainly European, countries. The data on the patients are linked to data on the PC physicians within each country and analysed using multilevel modelling.
findingsPatients had more positive experiences when their PC physician provided a broader range of services. However, a broader range of services is also associated with higher rates of hospitalisations for uncontrolled diabetes, but rates of avoidable diabetes-related hospitalisations were lower in countries where patients had a continuous relationship with PC physicians. Additionally, patients with a long-term relationship with their PC physician were less likely to attend the emergency department. Capitation payment was associated with more positive patient experiences. Mono- and multidisciplinary co-location was related to improved processes in PC, but the experiences of patients visiting multidisciplinary practices were less positive. A stronger national PC structure and higher overall health care expenditures are related to more favourable patient experiences for continuity and comprehensiveness. The study also revealed inequities: patients with a migration background reported less positive experiences. People with lower incomes more often postponed PC visits for financial reasons. Comprehensive and accessible care processes are related to less postponement of care.
conclusionsThe study revealed room for improvement related to patient-reported experiences and highlighted the importance of core PC characteristics including a continuous doctor-patient relationship as well as a broad range of services offered by PC physicians.
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