Primary Health Care System
RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP REPORTS

Analysis of the Canadian Survey of Experiences with Primary Health Care, Examining the association of patient-centred care with patient outcomes

• Bridget L. Ryan, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow, Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
• Moira Stewart, Ph.D., Director, Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
• Amardeep Thind, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine; and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

Abstract :

Patient-centred care has been listed as a key priority in recent Canadian reports. There is strong evidence supporting the efficacy of patient-centred care. Currently patient-centred studies focus on patient populations. What is lacking is the examination of patient-centredness at the national population level. The 2008 Canadian Survey of Experiences with Primary Health Care provided this opportunity. It contained four variables examining experiences of primary health care. The research questions were: What is the association between patient-centred care in primary health care and 1) a change in health status over the past year and 2) patient activation for those with chronic conditions? Sample sizes were 4845 and 3460 respectively. Multiple regression using survey weights and bootstrapping was employed. Patient-centred scores were associated with a positive change in health status (beta=0.07, p-value=0.011). The interaction of patient-centredness and age was associated with patient activation (beta= -0.002, p-value=0.003). The study was cross-sectional not permitting causal inference. These results provide evidence of the feasibility of including patient-centred variables in other population health surveys.

For further information and/or a copy of the full report, please contact:
Dr. Bridget Ryan
Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, The University of Western Ontario
519-661-2111 x20115
bryan@uwo.ca

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