Quality of primary care from patients’ perspective: a cross sectional study of outpatients’ experience in public health facilities in rural Malawi
Abstract Background Assessing patients’ experience with primary care complements measures of clinical health outcomes in evaluating service performance. Measuring patients’ experience and satisfaction are among Malawi’s health sector strategic goals. The purpose of this study was to investigate pati...
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doaj-ba86f1f22e3b41c094f6f424aa5d978a2020-11-25T01:53:20ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632018-11-011811910.1186/s12913-018-3701-xQuality of primary care from patients’ perspective: a cross sectional study of outpatients’ experience in public health facilities in rural MalawiLuckson Dullie0Eivind Meland1Thomas Mildestvedt2Øystein Hetlevik3Sturla Gjesdal4Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of BergenDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of BergenDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of BergenDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of BergenDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of BergenAbstract Background Assessing patients’ experience with primary care complements measures of clinical health outcomes in evaluating service performance. Measuring patients’ experience and satisfaction are among Malawi’s health sector strategic goals. The purpose of this study was to investigate patients’ experience with primary care and to identify associated patients’ sociodemographic, healthcare and health characteristics. Methods This was a cross sectional survey using questionnaires administered in public primary care facilities in Neno district, Malawi. Data on patients’ primary care experience and their sociodemographic, healthcare and health characteristics were collected through face to face interviews using a validated Malawian version of the primary care assessment tool (PCAT-Mw). Mean scores were derived for the following dimensions: first contact access, continuity of care, comprehensiveness, community orientation and total primary care. Linear regression models were used to assess association between primary care dimension scores and patients’ characteristics. Results From 631 completed questionnaires, first contact access, relational continuity and comprehensiveness of services available scored below the defined minimum. Sex, geographical location, self-rated health status, duration of contact with facility and facility affiliation were associated with patients’ experience with primary care. These factors explained 10.9% of the variance in total primary care scores; 25.2% in comprehensiveness of services available and 29.4% in first contact access. Conclusion This paper presents results from the first use of the validated PCAT-Mw. The study provides a baseline indicating areas that need improvement. The results can also be used alongside clinical outcome studies to provide comprehensive evaluation of primary care performance in Malawi.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-018-3701-xPrimary carePrimary care performancePrimary care assessment toolPatient experience measurementHealth servicesMalawi |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Luckson Dullie Eivind Meland Thomas Mildestvedt Øystein Hetlevik Sturla Gjesdal |
spellingShingle |
Luckson Dullie Eivind Meland Thomas Mildestvedt Øystein Hetlevik Sturla Gjesdal Quality of primary care from patients’ perspective: a cross sectional study of outpatients’ experience in public health facilities in rural Malawi BMC Health Services Research Primary care Primary care performance Primary care assessment tool Patient experience measurement Health services Malawi |
author_facet |
Luckson Dullie Eivind Meland Thomas Mildestvedt Øystein Hetlevik Sturla Gjesdal |
author_sort |
Luckson Dullie |
title |
Quality of primary care from patients’ perspective: a cross sectional study of outpatients’ experience in public health facilities in rural Malawi |
title_short |
Quality of primary care from patients’ perspective: a cross sectional study of outpatients’ experience in public health facilities in rural Malawi |
title_full |
Quality of primary care from patients’ perspective: a cross sectional study of outpatients’ experience in public health facilities in rural Malawi |
title_fullStr |
Quality of primary care from patients’ perspective: a cross sectional study of outpatients’ experience in public health facilities in rural Malawi |
title_full_unstemmed |
Quality of primary care from patients’ perspective: a cross sectional study of outpatients’ experience in public health facilities in rural Malawi |
title_sort |
quality of primary care from patients’ perspective: a cross sectional study of outpatients’ experience in public health facilities in rural malawi |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Health Services Research |
issn |
1472-6963 |
publishDate |
2018-11-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Assessing patients’ experience with primary care complements measures of clinical health outcomes in evaluating service performance. Measuring patients’ experience and satisfaction are among Malawi’s health sector strategic goals. The purpose of this study was to investigate patients’ experience with primary care and to identify associated patients’ sociodemographic, healthcare and health characteristics. Methods This was a cross sectional survey using questionnaires administered in public primary care facilities in Neno district, Malawi. Data on patients’ primary care experience and their sociodemographic, healthcare and health characteristics were collected through face to face interviews using a validated Malawian version of the primary care assessment tool (PCAT-Mw). Mean scores were derived for the following dimensions: first contact access, continuity of care, comprehensiveness, community orientation and total primary care. Linear regression models were used to assess association between primary care dimension scores and patients’ characteristics. Results From 631 completed questionnaires, first contact access, relational continuity and comprehensiveness of services available scored below the defined minimum. Sex, geographical location, self-rated health status, duration of contact with facility and facility affiliation were associated with patients’ experience with primary care. These factors explained 10.9% of the variance in total primary care scores; 25.2% in comprehensiveness of services available and 29.4% in first contact access. Conclusion This paper presents results from the first use of the validated PCAT-Mw. The study provides a baseline indicating areas that need improvement. The results can also be used alongside clinical outcome studies to provide comprehensive evaluation of primary care performance in Malawi. |
topic |
Primary care Primary care performance Primary care assessment tool Patient experience measurement Health services Malawi |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-018-3701-x |
work_keys_str_mv |
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