Residency training in family medicine and its impact on coordination and continuity of care: an analysis of referrals to secondary care in Rio de Janeiro.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To measure the effect that residency training in family medicine (RTFM) has on continuity and coordination of care.

Design

Observational cohort study using electronic health records.

Setting

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, public primary care system.

Participants

504 940 patients, 633 generalists (physicians without RTFM) and 204 family physicians (FP-doctors with 2 years of RTFM) from one health district between January 2015 and December 2018.

Intervention

Two years of RTFM.

Main outcome measures

Relative risks of patients being referred to secondary care for outpatient consultations and diagnostics tests; and having a follow-up medical consultation in primary care within 3 and 6 months after being referred.

Results

We examined 2 414 508

SUBMITTER: Jantsch AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8852675 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature