title: Factors in Maintaining a Stable Patient-Physician Relationship among Individuals with Schizophrenia.
abstract: This study aimed to determine whether adequate continuity of care (COC) existed among individuals with schizophrenia, and what the associated determinants were. The National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan was used to identify individuals with newly diagnosed schizophrenia from 2000 to 2009. Two outcome indicators were first derived to conduct the continuity assessment based on the usual provider continuity (UPC) index and the continuity of care index (COCI). The average scores of the UPC and COCI were 0.78 and 0.67, respectively. Patients who have been hospitalized, with lower income, and unemployed had significantly poorer continuity of care. In addition, patients were cared for by higher caseload physicians, treated at mental health specialty institutions, and at hospital outpatient settings also experienced significantly poorer continuity. Patients cared for by middle-aged physicians, psychiatrists, and treated at private institutions had significantly better continuity of mental health care.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Beitou Dist., Taipei City, 112, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hsin-Hui
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Beitou Dist., Taipei City, 112, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chuan-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei City, 106, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jen-Huoy
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tsay
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Beitou Dist., Taipei City, 112, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yiing-Jenq
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang Ming University, Room 201, The Medical Building II, No.155, Section 2, Li-Nong Street, Taipei, 112, Taiwan, Republic of China. syhuang@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6629-1176
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Continuity of care; Patient characteristics; Provider characteristics; Schizophrenia