title: Interpersonal continuity of care: a cross-sectional survey of primary care patients' preferences and their experiences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Developments in primary care may make the provision of interpersonal continuity more difficult.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify those patients who regard interpersonal continuity as important and determine what makes it difficult for them to obtain this.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two practices and a walk-in centre in West London and Leicestershire, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Administration of a questionnaire on preferences for and experiences of interpersonal and informational continuity. Interpersonal continuity was defined in three questions: choosing a particular person; choosing someone known and trusted; and choosing someone who knows the patient and medical condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One thousand four hundred and thirty-seven (46.5%) patients responded. Consulting someone known and trusted was important to 766 (62.6%) responders, although 105 (13.7%) of these reported that they had not experienced it at their last consultation. Seven hundred and eighty-eight (65.2%) responders regarded being able to consult a particular person as important, but 168 (21.3%) of these were unable to. Being in work and consulting for a new problem were associated with failing to obtain interpersonal continuity. Ethnic group was associated with failing to see someone with time to listen when this was preferred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of the response rate, which was particularly low among young males, some caution is required in applying the findings. Most patients experience the aspects of care important to them, although interpersonal continuity is important to many and certain groups find difficulty in obtaining it. Practices should have flexible appointment systems to account for the difficulties some patients have in negotiating for the type of care they want.
authors: Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, 22-28 Princess Road West, Leicester. rb14@leicester.ac.uk
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Baker
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Boulton
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Windridge
authors: Carolyn
authors: C
authors: Tarrant
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Bankart
authors: George K
authors: GK
authors: Freeman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*