Fragmentation of ambulatory care among older adults: an exhaustive database study in an ageing city in Japan.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Continuity of care is a core dimension of primary care, and better continuity is associated with better patient outcomes. Therefore, care fragmentation can be an indicator to assess the quality of primary care, especially in countries without formal gatekeeping system, such as Japan. Thus, this study aimed to describe care fragmentation among older adults in an ageing city in Japan.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

The most populated basic municipality in Japan.

Participants

Older adults aged 75 years and older.

Interventions

This study used a health claims database, including older adults who visited medical facilities at least four times a year in an urban city in Japan. The Fragmentation of Care Index (FCI) was used as an indicator of

SUBMITTER: Kaneko M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9379480 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature