Long-term attendance at a family practice teaching unit. Qualitative study of patients' views.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the factors that contribute to patients' long-term attendance at a family practice teaching unit.


METHODS
Qualitative method of focus groups.


METHODS
A community-based family practice teaching unit in southwestern Ontario.


METHODS
Patients who had been coming to St Joseph's Family Medical Centre for more than 15 years were purposefully selected to participate.


METHODS
Five focus groups composed of patients who had been affiliated with one of the three practices at the Centre for more than 15 years explored factors contributing to long-term attendance.


RESULTS
Four key themes were identified as the primary factors contributing to long-term attendance: the relationship context, the team concept, professional responsibility and attitudes, and comprehensive and convenient care.


CONCLUSIONS
The resource-rich era of medical care, during which participants formulated their views and opinions about the factors contributing to their long-term attendance at a family practice teaching unit, has come to a close. The findings of this study provide important information that could help maintain one of the basic tenets of family medicine-continuity of care.
Brown
J B
JB
Thames Valley Family Practice Research Unit, London, ON.
Dickie
I
I
Brown
L
L
Biehn
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011361:Professional Competence; D013997:Time Factors