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

作者：Ting Ye, Xiaowei Sun, Wenxi Tang, Yudong Miao, Yan Zhang, Liang Zhang · 发表于：BMC Health Services Research · 年份：2016 · DOI：10.1186/s12913-016-1673-2 · 被引用次数：42 · 研究领域：Primary Care and Health Outcomes、Chronic Disease Management Strategies、Frailty in Older Adults

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 continui...