[Patient discharge form in primary care (II): views and level of satisfaction of family doctors].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the opinion and satisfaction shown by a sample of primary care (PC) doctors about the patient discharge form (PDF) and to assess proposals for improvement. Design. Descriptive study of the result of a questionnaire.


METHODS
All the health districts in the city of Mataró (Barcelona).Participants. 37 PC doctors treating adults out of a total of 43 (86% participation).


METHODS
Written questionnaire, self-answered and anonymous, filled in after a brief introduction.


RESULTS
73% of those surveyed were <<very satisfied>> - <<satisfied>> with the PDF. 82.9% valued it positively as a nexus of union between PC and hospital. 38.9% of these did not obtain a response consonant with their prior expectations. The written comprehension and expression on medical PDFs was considered better than on surgical ones. The amount of information was <<sufficient>> from 70.3% of medical doctors as against 40.5% of surgeons. The filling-in of the various sections of the PDF were mainly valued as <<very good>> - <<good>> (better in medical than surgical doctors). Most evaluated the information provided as <<very useful>> - <<useful>>, mainly in the medical PDF. The main changes to be introduced refer to the treatment, post-discharge follow-up and the omission of social-health and nursing questions.


CONCLUSIONS
A high percentage of those surveyed value the PDF highly as a nexus linking PC and Hospital, despite finding faults in the information contained. The PDF could become more useful if there was more dialogue between doctors at the two care levels.
Canals Innamorati
J
J
ABS Martorelles. ICS. Barcelona. España.
Montero Alcaraz
J C
JC
Buxadé Martí
I
I
Bolívar Ribas
I
I
D000328:Adult; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires