title: Having a Family Doctor is Associated with Some Better Patient-Reported Outcomes of Primary Care Consultations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hong Kong (HK) has pluralistic primary care that is provided by a variety of doctors. The aim of our study was to assess patient-reported outcomes of primary care consultations in HK and whether having a family doctor (FD) made any difference.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed by telephone 3148 subjects from 5174 contacted households (response rate 60.8%) randomly selected from the general population of HK about the experience of their last primary care consultations in September 2007 and April 2008. We compared the patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and patient-centered process of care in those with a FD, those with other types of regular primary care doctors (ORD) and those without any regular primary care doctor (NRD). PRO included patient enablement, global improvement in health, overall satisfaction, and likelihood of recommending their doctors to family and friends. Patient-centered process of care indicators was explanations about the illness, and address of patient's concerns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One thousand one hundred fifty, 746, and 1157 reported to have FD, ORD, and NRD, respectively. Over 80% of those with FD consulted their usual primary care doctors in the last consultation compared with 27% of those with NRD. Compared with subjects having ORD or NRD, subjects with FD reported being more enabled after the consultation and were more likely to recommend their doctors to family and friends. Subjects with FD and ORD were more likely than those having NRD to report a global improvement in health and satisfaction. FD group was more likely than the other two groups to report receiving an explanation on the diagnosis, nature, and expected course of the illness, and having their concerns addressed. Patient enablement was associated with explanation of diagnosis, nature, and expected course of illness, and address of patient's concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People with a regular FD were more likely to feel being enabled and to experience patient-centered care in consultations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Cindy L K
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Esther Y T
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Yvonne Y C
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Carlos K H
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Section of General Practice and Primary Care, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow , Glasgow , UK.
authors.forename: Stewart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Daniel Y T
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Tai Pong
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Gabriel M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Leung
keywords: family doctor; patient enablement; patient-centered care; patient-reported outcomes; primary care