Defining the concept of primary care in South Korea using a Delphi method.
OBJECTIVE
There is no consensus on the definition of primary care in South Korea. This study's objective was to define the concept of primary care using a Delphi method.


METHODS
Three expert panels were formed, consisting of 16 primary care policy researchers, 45 stakeholders, and 16 primary care physicians. Three rounds of voting, using 9-point appropriateness scales, were conducted. The first round involved rating the appropriateness of 20 previously established attributes of primary care. In round 2, panelists received a summary of the first-round results and were asked to once again vote on the 10 undetermined attributes and the provisional definition. The final round involved voting on the appropriateness of the revised definition. The Korean Language Society reviewed the revised definition.


RESULTS
Four core (first-contact care, comprehensiveness, coordination, and longitudinality) and three ancillary (personalized care, family and community context, and community base) attributes were selected. The Korean definition of primary care was accomplished with all three panel groups arriving at a "very good" level of consensus.


CONCLUSIONS
The Korean definition of primary care will provide a framework for evaluating performance of primary care in South Korea. It will also contribute to resolving confusion about the concept of primary care.
Lee
Jae Ho
JH
Department of Family Medicine at the Catholic University of Korea, Kangnam St. Mary's hospital, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea 137-701. jaeholee@catholic ac.kr
Choi
Yong-Jun
YJ
Volk
Robert J
RJ
Kim
Soo Young
SY
Kim
Yong Sik
YS
Park
Hoon Ki
HK
Jeon
Tae-Hee
TH
Hong
Seung Kwon
SK
Spann
Stephen J
SJ
D001294:Attitude to Health; D003154:Community Medicine / Q000145:classification* / Q000379:methods; D032921:Consensus; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005194:Family Practice / Q000145:classification* / Q000379:methods; D020793:Gatekeeping; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D007802:Language; D010548:Personal Health Services; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000145:classification* / Q000379:methods; D012660:Semantics; D012962:Sociology, Medical; D009626:Terminology as Topic