title: A first approach to differences in continuity of care perceived by immigrants and natives in the Catalan public healthcare system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare immigrants' and natives' perceptions of relational, managerial and informational continuity of care and to explore the influence of the length of stay on immigrants' perceptions of continuity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study based on a survey of a random sample of 1,500 patients, of which 22% (331) were immigrants. The study area was made up by three healthcare areas of the Catalan healthcare system. To collect data, the CCAENA questionnaire was applied. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Like natives, immigrants perceive high levels of managerial continuity (88.5%) and relational continuity with primary and secondary care physicians (86.7 and 81.8%), and lower levels of informational continuity (59.1%). There were no statistically significant differences in managerial and informational continuity between immigrants and natives. However, immigrants perceive a worse relational continuity with primary care physicians in terms of trust, communication and clinical responsibility. Conversely, immigrants perceive higher relational continuity with secondary care physicians in terms of effective communication and clinical responsibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar managerial and informational continuity perceptions seem to point towards a similar treatment of patients, regardless of their immigrant status. However, differences in relational continuity highlight the need for improvements in professionals' skills in treating immigrants' patients.
authors.affiliation: Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, Barcelona 08022, Spain. maller@consorci.org
authors.forename: Marta-Beatriz
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Aller
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Colomé
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Waibel
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Vázquez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011634:Public Health; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult