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Impacts of Interpersonal Continuity between General Practitioners (GPs) and Patients on Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Wu, Yansi

    (Department of Health Management and Health Economics)

Abstract

Continuity of care is a long-standing, growing topic of healthcare, especially in primary care. Continuity between general practitioners and patients likely affects healthcare indicators, such as patient satisfaction, healthcare utilization, mortality, healthcare expenditure, etc. This review aims to examine the relationship between continuity and various healthcare indicators. A MEDLINE search covering 1966-2021 identified 10 systematic reviews and 26 relevant studies. There were 13 different continuity measures identified in these individual studies. Hospital admissions/re-admissions and emergency room visits are the most explored outcome measures, where significant negative effects were found to be consistent with higher continuity. More recent studies, especially in the Nordic countries, explored the impacts of discontinuity. Additionally, patients with chronic disease conditions were paid more attention to in recent studies. However, evidence in these two areas is limited and requires further research.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Yansi, 2023. "Impacts of Interpersonal Continuity between General Practitioners (GPs) and Patients on Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review," HERO Online Working Paper Series 2023:2, University of Oslo, Health Economics Research Programme.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:oslohe:2023_002
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    File URL: https://www.med.uio.no/helsam/forskning/nettverk/hero/publikasjoner/skriftserie/2023/2023-2.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Suzanne E Bentler & Robert O Morgan & Beth A Virnig & Fredric D Wolinsky, 2014. "The Association of Longitudinal and Interpersonal Continuity of Care with Emergency Department Use, Hospitalization, and Mortality among Medicare Beneficiaries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(12), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Simonsen, Marianne & Skipper, Lars & Skipper, Niels & Thingholm, Peter Rønø, 2021. "Discontinuity in care: Practice closures among primary care providers and patient health care utilization," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    continuity of care; primary health care; patient-physician relationship; coordination of care; interpersonal continuity continuity; index; named GP; general practitioner; discontinuity of care; general practitioner discontinuity; patient satisfaction; quality of care;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General
    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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