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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Effect of continuity of care on health-related quality of life in adult patients with hypertension: a cohort study in China

Authors: Ting Ye, Xiaowei Sun, Wenxi Tang, Yudong Miao, Yan Zhang, Liang Zhang

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Continuity of care is widely considered a principle of primary care that decreases healthcare utilization and mortality. However, the effect of continuity of care on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for adult patients with hypertension remains unclear.

Methods

To further evaluate the effect of continuity of care, we implemented a cohort study among hypertensive patients aged over 35 years (n = 1200) in six townships in Qianjiang District, Chongqing, China, between 2012 and 2014. The study ultimately included 1079 participants. The continuity of care index was calculated using claim-based longitudinal data obtained from hypertension follow-up service records. The baseline and endline survey-based data, tested by the SF-36 scale, were used to assess HRQoL. To control selection bias and examine the effect of continuity of care, a kernel-based propensity score matching difference-in-differences (DID) method was used. Additionally, descriptive statistics, chi-squared test, and Mann–Whitney nonparametric test were used to summarize characteristics, evaluate proportional differences, and analyze statistical differences, respectively.

Results

Our results showed that patients in the high continuity of care group presented greater improvement in both Physical Component Summary (PCS, DID = 5.192 ± 1.970, p < 0.001) and Mental Component Summary (MCS, DID = 7.900 ± 1.815, p = 0.008) than those in the low continuity of care group. Moreover, patients in the high continuity of care group showed significant improvement in physical functioning, role-physical, general health, role-emotional, and mental health.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that a long-term physician-patient relationship may improve HRQoL in patients with hypertension. However, more unified measurement tools are needed to evaluate continuity of care. Further studies should include more study settings.
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Metadata
Title
Effect of continuity of care on health-related quality of life in adult patients with hypertension: a cohort study in China
Authors
Ting Ye
Xiaowei Sun
Wenxi Tang
Yudong Miao
Yan Zhang
Liang Zhang
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1673-2

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