Improved access to and continuity of primary care after attachment to a family physician: longitudinal cohort study on centralized waiting lists for unattached patients in Quebec, Canada.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Having a regular family physician is associated with many benefits. Formal attachment - an administrative patient-family physician agreement - is a popular feature in primary care, intended to improve access to and continuity of care with a family physician. However, little evidence exists about its effectiveness. In Quebec, Canada, where over 20% of the population is unattached, centralized waiting lists help attach patients. This provides a unique opportunity to observe the influence of attachment in previously unattached patients. The aim was to evaluate changes in access to and continuity of primary care associated with attachment to a family physician through Quebec's centralized waiting lists for unattached patients.

Methods

We conducted an observational lon

SUBMITTER: Smithman MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9482231 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature