title: A novel tool for assessing primary care quality at the point of care in Vietnam.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of improved primary care systems around the world has received increased attention as a step towards improved health care for all. Vietnam is engaged in efforts to improve health care quality with a focus on primary care and Family Medicine training. New methods of assessment are needed to accurately measure competency in primary care practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A behaviourally-anchored rating scale was developed focused on core primary care principles for use in direct observation at the site of primary care delivery. This assessment tool was implemented with trainees in Family Medicine and a cohort of physicians not trained in Family Medicine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tool measured statistically significant differences in selected behaviours related to communication skills and comprehensiveness among Family Medicine trained physicians. No significant differences were measured in other primary care domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This behaviourally-anchored rating scale is a feasible tool for use in direct observation of primary care practice delivery in developing settings. More work is needed to refine this tool and assess its sensitivity, validity and reliability.
authors: a Department of Surgery , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors: Lucas W
authors: LW
authors: Thornblade
authors: b School of Public Health , Boston University , Boston , MA , USA.
authors: Elizabeth G
authors: EG
authors: Henry
authors: c Department of Family Medicine , Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Hue , Vietnam.
authors: Nguyen
authors: N
authors: Minh Tam
authors: d Department of Family Medicine, Global Health Collaborative , Boston University , Boston , MA , USA.
authors: Jeffrey F
authors: JF
authors: Markuns
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000592:standards; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D014744:Vietnam
keywords: Family Medicine; Primary care; Vietnam; assessment; post-graduate training