title: Effects of having usual source of care on preventive services and chronic disease control: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Having usual source of care has been associated with improved receipt of preventive services and control of chronic diseases (such as hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia). The objective of this study was to examine whether having usual source of care is associated with improved receipt of preventive services and control of chronic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, KMbase, KoreaMed, RiSS4U, National Assembly Library, and KISS for studies released through May 31st 2011. Two authors independently extracted the data. We manually searched the references and twenty recent related articles on PubMed. To assess the risk of bias RoBANS tool was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 10 studies. Most having usual source of care were associated with improved receipt of preventive services (cervical cancer screening, clinical breast exam, mammogram, prostate cancer screening, and flu shot) compared with no usual source of care. However, gastric cancer and colon cancer screening were difficult to conclude and blood pressure checkup showed mixed results. Overall there was no association between having usual source of care and smoking behaviors and the effect on chronic disease control was difficult to conclude.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having usual source of care was associated with improved receipt of preventive services and overall the results were consistent. So, the results suggested that having usual source of care may help to receive preventive services. Hereafter, cohort studies are needed to evaluate casual relationships and more studies are needed in various countries and systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ju Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Il-Kwon
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: In Hong
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim