Factors Contributing to Patients' Preferences for Primary Health Care Institutions in China: A Qualitative Study

Frontiers in Public Health

article

Weiwei Zhang¹  Carolina Oi Lam Ung²  Guohua Lin¹  Jie Liu¹  Wenjun Li¹  Hao Hu²  Xiaoyu Xi¹ 

[1] The Research Center of National Drug Policy & Ecosystem, China Pharmaceutical University;State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau

关键词: patient;    preference;    primary health care;    qualitative;    China;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2020.00414

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Background: Primary health care (PHC) is a key component of the health care system in many countries. In China, however, PHC institutions are less preferred by patients, leading to the underuse of PHC services. Factors affecting patients' preferences for PHC institutions in China remain unreported in the current literature, which was first explored in this study. Method: A qualitative interview study was conducted in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China. A semi-structured interview guide was applied to ask patients' opinions regarding the PHC institutions in China. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using the thematic framework approach. Results: A total of 142 participants were interviewed. Three themes and their sub-themes emerged from the study: (1) attributes of PHC services, including accessibility of primary healthcare services, consultation time, drug cost, continuity of care, referral system, opening hours, waiting time, and drug accessibility; (2) attributes of PHC doctors' workforce, including doctors' attitude, competence, and accessibility; (3) attributes of PHC facility infrastructure, including basic facilities, diagnostic facilities and department settings. It was identified that some attributes of PHC services had positive impacts on participants' preferences for PHC institutions, while the same attributes of PHC doctors were the opposite. Conclusion: There are three major factors that contribute to patients' preferences for PHC institutions in China. Policy interventions to improve doctors' workforce and facility infrastructure of PHC institutions are needed to promote patients' preferences for PHC.

【 授权许可】

CC BY