Continuity of care in general practice: a survey among the general practitioners in Finland

Nina Tusa, Ulla Mikkonen, Kadri Suija, Tuomas Koskela, Pekka Mäntyselkä

Keywords: continuity of care, primary health care, general practice

Background:

Continuity of care (COC), defined as a longitudinal relationship with a personal physician, is one of the core values of general practice. In the Finnish healthcare system, however, maintaining it might be challenging.

Research questions:

The aim of this study was to analyse how continuity of care is realized in the opinion of general practitioners (GPs) and what practices could be used to implement and improve it.

Method:

We conducted a web-based survey among GPs in Finland from May to October in 2023. The questionnaire was developed by the study team and added to the Webropol online environment of the University of Eastern Finland. An invitation and link to the online questionnaire were sent by e-mail to the contact people of the wellbeing services, requesting it to be forwarded to the GPs working in their area. We analysed data using inductive thematic analysis.

Results:

Altogether, 432 questionnaires were answered. The participants were evenly spread across Finland, 54% of them were specialists in general practice and 69% had more than five years of working experience as a GP. Regarding the questions of existing practices and how to improve COC, GPs mentioned for example following codes: a flexible appointment system and arrangement of follow-up care; improving the assessment of the need for treatment; targeting COC for special patient groups; smaller centers, which support familiarization; the practical and flexible ways of organizing work; good leadership with a shared aim to routinely COC. Having enough healthcare workers and stable staff were seen as prerequisites for improving COC. GPs associated COC with the meaningfulness of work and well-being. The results of the theme analysis will be presented in the congress.

Conclusions:

The GPs identified existing practices which support COC as well as suggested approaches to improve it in general practice.

Points for discussion:

How to promote continuity of care in organisational level

How to promote continuity of care in individual level

GP's perception of the continuity of care to their work and well-being.

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