Detection and follow-up of chronic health conditions in Rio de Janeiro – the impact of residency training in family medicine

Bibliographic Details
Title: Detection and follow-up of chronic health conditions in Rio de Janeiro – the impact of residency training in family medicine
Authors: Adelson Guaraci Jantsch, Bo Burström, Gunnar Nilsson, Antônio Ponce de Leon
Source: BMC Family Practice, Vol 22, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2021)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Medicine (General)
Subject Terms: Primary Health Care, Family Practice, Health Workforce, Developing Countries, Medicine (General), R5-920
More Details: Abstract Background There is a need for evidence that residency training in family medicine can benefit the care of patients in primary care in low- and middle-income countries. We tested the hypothesis that two years of residency training in family medicine enables doctors to better detect chronic health conditions while requesting fewer laboratory tests and providing more follow-up visits. Methods We performed a retrospective longitudinal observational analysis of medical consultations from 2013 to 2018 in primary care in Rio de Janeiro, comparing doctors without residency training in family medicine (Generalists) versus family physicians (FPs). Multivariate multilevel binomial regression models estimated the risks of patients being diagnosed for a list of 31 chronic health conditions, having a follow-up visit for these conditions, and having laboratory tests ordered from a list of 30 exams. Results 569.289 patients had 2.908.864 medical consultations performed by 734 generalists and 231 FPs. Patients seen by FPs were at a higher risk of being detected for most of the chronic health conditions, at a lower risk of having any of the 30 laboratory tests requested, and at a higher risk of having a follow-up visit in primary care. Conclusions Residency training in family medicine can make physicians more skilled to work in primary care. Policymakers must prioritize investments in capacity building of healthcare workforce to make primary care truly comprehensive.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1471-2296
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1471-2296
DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01542-5
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/129194df9ca04a68a749f39b3842c117
Accession Number: edsdoj.129194df9ca04a68a749f39b3842c117
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:14712296
DOI:10.1186/s12875-021-01542-5
Published in:BMC Family Practice
Language:English