Comparison of Patients’ Perceived Quality of Primary Care Between Urban and Rural Community Health Centers in Guangdong, China

Aiyun Chen, Shanshan Feng, Liang Zhang and Leiyu Shi
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Aiyun Chen: School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
Shanshan Feng: School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
Liang Zhang: Research Centre of Rural Healthcare Services, School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
Leiyu Shi: Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-16

Abstract: Background: A series of reforms were implemented to improve the quality of primary care services in China. This study aims to assess patients’ perceived quality of primary healthcare between rural and urban community health centers in Guangdong. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to December 2015 in Guangdong. We surveyed 1010 respondents who visited either community health centers/stations (CHCs/CHSs) in urban areas or township health centers/rural health stations (THCs/RHSs) in rural areas. A validated Chinese version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool-Adult Short Version (PCAT-AS), representing ten primary care domains, was used to collect information on patients’ primary care experiences. A t -test was used for comparison on domain scores and total scores between patients from CHCs/CHSs and THCs/RHSs. An analysis of covariance was employed to compare the adjusted PCAT domain scores and total scores. Multilevel models were used to explore factors associated with PCAT total scores. Results: Overall, patients reported a lower level of experience of community orientation and family centeredness compared to other primary care domains. Patients from THCs/RHSs settings in the rural area reported better primary care experience in four domains, including first contact, accessibility, ongoing care, and community orientation. Higher education background and those with a chronic disease were associated with better primary care experience, after controlling for confounding factors. Patients who preferred primary care institutions when getting sick or used health services more frequently reported better primary care experiences. Conclusion: Continued efforts are needed to strengthen primary care performances, particularly in a community orientation and family centeredness. Primary care delivery in CHCs/CHSs settings should be improved in four domains, including first contact, accessibility, ongoing care, and community orientation.

Keywords: primary care; community health centers/stations; township health center; rural health station; quality of care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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