Quality of Care in General Practice

Abstract

In this article the author discusses some of the principles of evaluation of quality of care in general practice and connects this with some empiric results of a study which attempted to evaluate the quality of work of the general practitioners in a Finnish health centre. Data were obtained by 1) recording all the 8701 persons visiting during one year; 2) drawing a systematic sample of 2540 persons from all those who visited; and 3) abstracting the required information from patient documents to specially planned precoded and pretested forms. The objectives of the study included the investigation of the quality aspects of the health centre doctor services, among other things also the continuity and coordination of care. The results raise questions concerning the quality of work. No general conclusions on the quality of care are drawn, since the data may not be adequate for that. According to the author, the findings emphasise the importance of at least three things: The consideration of what is done in the context of the patients’ prognosis, the communication skills of the general practitioners and the communication between the general practitioners who work in the same place. In the light of the described and other findings of the study it is strongly recommended that the study of the contents of the work should be an integral part of today's general practice.

Key Words:

• quality assurance
• evaluation of health services
• primary health care
• general practice