Vulnerability and the patient-practitioner relationship: The roles of gatekeeping and primary care performance

L. Shi, C.B. Forrest, S. Von Schrader and J. Ng

American Journal of Public Health, 2003, vol. 93, issue 1, 138-144

Abstract: Objectives. We examined whether patients' perceptions of their relationships with primary care practitioners (PCPs) vary by vulnerability status and assessed the extent to which gatekeeping arrangements and primary care performance moderate potential disparities. Methods: We used the nationally representative 1996-1997 Community Tracking Study Household Survey as our data source. Results. Whites reported better patient-practitioner relationships than minorities. Requirements that patients select a PCP and obtain referral authorization neither reduced nor exacerbated racial disparities in the patient-practitioner relationship. On the other hand, access to and continuity with a PCP substantively reduced disparities, especially for the most vulnerable group. Conclusions. Enhancing primary care performance may reduce some of the barriers to care experienced by vulnerable populations, thereby improving patients' relationships with their PCPs.

Date: 2003
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:2003:93:1:138-144_5

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().