The competence of village clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in rural China: A nationally representative assessment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

While strengthening primary care quality is key to China's health system reforms, evidence to guide this work has been limited, particularly for rural areas. This study provides the first nationally-representative assessment of village doctors' competence in diagnosing and managing presumptive heart disease.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of village clinics was conducted across five provinces. We presented standardized clinical vignettes to evaluate clinicians' competence in diagnosing and managing unstable angina. Enumerators accompanying mock patients documented the interaction, including questions, physical examinations, diagnoses, and management options provided by the doctor. We measured diagnostic process competence as adherence to "recommended" questions a

SUBMITTER: Guo W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8315592 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature