title: Continuity of care from the perspective of users.
abstract: Continuity of care, in addition to ensuring improvement of the quality of care, contributes to the reduction of health costs. The objective of this study was to analyse the continuity of care in health units in the municipality of Évora (south of Portugal), from the perspective of users. This is across-sectional, exploratory and descriptive study with a quantitative approach, with a sample consisting of 342 users of health units. The instrument was a questionnaire adapted from English and Spanish studies. The results show that elements of continuity were identified in the different dimensions of the continuity of care - relational, management, information and some items of flexible continuity. Longitudinal continuity has the lowest values in nursing care. In conclusion, what stands out positively, and in its different dimensions, is relational continuity, in which most users recommend their family doctor and nurse to family and friends, and flexible continuity, which translates into reduced waiting times to be attended by a doctor or nurse and access to care. What stands out negatively is the weak involvement of the user in care by health professionals, in the dimensions of relational continuity.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade de Évora; Centro de Investigação em Desporto, Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano (CIDESD-UEvora). Largo Senhor da Pobreza. 7000-811 Évora Portugal. fm@uevora.pt.
authors.forename: Felismina Rosa P
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade de Évora. Évora Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Laurência G Parreirinha
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gemito
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade de Évora. Évora Portugal.
authors.forename: Ermelinda do Carmo
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Caldeira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade de Évora. Évora Portugal.
authors.forename: Isaura da Conceição
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade de Évora. Évora Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Vitória
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Casas-Novas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011174:Portugal; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists; D055815:Young Adult