Senior researcher International Comparative Research (WHO)
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Changes in primary care provision in Turkey: a comparison of 1993 and 2012.
Akman, M., Sakarya, S., Sargin, M., Ünlüoğlu, I., Taşkın Eğici, M., Boerma, W.G.W., Schäfer, W.L.A. Changes in primary care provision in Turkey: a comparison of 1993 and 2012. Health Policy: 2017, 121(2), p. 197-206.
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Background
Since the early 1990s, the primary care system in Turkey has undergone fundamentalchanges. In the first decade of the millennium family doctor scheme was introduced tothe Turkish primary care sector and the name of the primary care doctors (PCDs) changedfrom “general practitioner” (GP) to “family doctor” (FD).
Aims
This study aims to give an insightinto those changes and to compare the service profiles of PCDs in 1993 and 2012.
Methods
Data, basedon cross sectional surveys among Turkish doctors working in primary care are derived fromthe 1993 European GP Task Profile study (n = 199) and the 2012 Quality and Costs of Pri-mary Care in Europe (QUALICOPC) study (n = 299). The study focuses on the changes in theprimary care service provision based on selected aspects such as the first contact of care,preventive care, and the knowledge exchange and collaboration with other health profes-sionals.
Results
Compared to GPs in 1993, FDs in 2012 reported that their involvement in treatmentof chronic diseases, first contact care, antenatal and child health care have increased. FDshave more contact with other primary healthcare workers but their contact with hospitalconsultants have decreased.
Conclusions
Overall, the services provided by PCDs seem to be expanded.However, the quality of care given by FDs and its effects on health indicators are needed tobe explored by further studies.
Since the early 1990s, the primary care system in Turkey has undergone fundamentalchanges. In the first decade of the millennium family doctor scheme was introduced tothe Turkish primary care sector and the name of the primary care doctors (PCDs) changedfrom “general practitioner” (GP) to “family doctor” (FD).
Aims
This study aims to give an insightinto those changes and to compare the service profiles of PCDs in 1993 and 2012.
Methods
Data, basedon cross sectional surveys among Turkish doctors working in primary care are derived fromthe 1993 European GP Task Profile study (n = 199) and the 2012 Quality and Costs of Pri-mary Care in Europe (QUALICOPC) study (n = 299). The study focuses on the changes in theprimary care service provision based on selected aspects such as the first contact of care,preventive care, and the knowledge exchange and collaboration with other health profes-sionals.
Results
Compared to GPs in 1993, FDs in 2012 reported that their involvement in treatmentof chronic diseases, first contact care, antenatal and child health care have increased. FDshave more contact with other primary healthcare workers but their contact with hospitalconsultants have decreased.
Conclusions
Overall, the services provided by PCDs seem to be expanded.However, the quality of care given by FDs and its effects on health indicators are needed tobe explored by further studies.
Background
Since the early 1990s, the primary care system in Turkey has undergone fundamentalchanges. In the first decade of the millennium family doctor scheme was introduced tothe Turkish primary care sector and the name of the primary care doctors (PCDs) changedfrom “general practitioner” (GP) to “family doctor” (FD).
Aims
This study aims to give an insightinto those changes and to compare the service profiles of PCDs in 1993 and 2012.
Methods
Data, basedon cross sectional surveys among Turkish doctors working in primary care are derived fromthe 1993 European GP Task Profile study (n = 199) and the 2012 Quality and Costs of Pri-mary Care in Europe (QUALICOPC) study (n = 299). The study focuses on the changes in theprimary care service provision based on selected aspects such as the first contact of care,preventive care, and the knowledge exchange and collaboration with other health profes-sionals.
Results
Compared to GPs in 1993, FDs in 2012 reported that their involvement in treatmentof chronic diseases, first contact care, antenatal and child health care have increased. FDshave more contact with other primary healthcare workers but their contact with hospitalconsultants have decreased.
Conclusions
Overall, the services provided by PCDs seem to be expanded.However, the quality of care given by FDs and its effects on health indicators are needed tobe explored by further studies.
Since the early 1990s, the primary care system in Turkey has undergone fundamentalchanges. In the first decade of the millennium family doctor scheme was introduced tothe Turkish primary care sector and the name of the primary care doctors (PCDs) changedfrom “general practitioner” (GP) to “family doctor” (FD).
Aims
This study aims to give an insightinto those changes and to compare the service profiles of PCDs in 1993 and 2012.
Methods
Data, basedon cross sectional surveys among Turkish doctors working in primary care are derived fromthe 1993 European GP Task Profile study (n = 199) and the 2012 Quality and Costs of Pri-mary Care in Europe (QUALICOPC) study (n = 299). The study focuses on the changes in theprimary care service provision based on selected aspects such as the first contact of care,preventive care, and the knowledge exchange and collaboration with other health profes-sionals.
Results
Compared to GPs in 1993, FDs in 2012 reported that their involvement in treatmentof chronic diseases, first contact care, antenatal and child health care have increased. FDshave more contact with other primary healthcare workers but their contact with hospitalconsultants have decreased.
Conclusions
Overall, the services provided by PCDs seem to be expanded.However, the quality of care given by FDs and its effects on health indicators are needed tobe explored by further studies.