title: Effect of resident turnover on patients' appointment-keeping behavior in a primary care medical clinic.
abstract: In this study of 208 patients attending a Primary Care Medical Clinic of a metropolitan teaching hospital, objective measurements were used to assess the effect of discontinuous care as a result of resident turnover on patient appointment-keeping behavior. A change of resident resulted in no significant difference in return visit failure rate, subsequent appointment-keeping rate, or number of patients expressing new problems or requiring chronic therapy plan changes.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care