Search

Aim: The study aimed to compare long‐ and short‐term frequent attenders' (FAs) perceptions of patient‐centredness and to assess the equivalence of the factor structure of patient‐centred primary care (PCPC) instrument for long‐ and short‐term FAs. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey of long‐term (n = 234) and short‐term (n = 261) FAs within the primary healthcare of one city in Finland. The data collected in January–July 2020 via 'the 36‐item PCPC instrument' were analysed using Pearson's chi‐squared test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, Cronbach's alpha, and multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA). Results: Long‐term FAs had worse perceptions of patient‐centredness than short‐term FAs across all subscales: patients' preferences, physical comfort, coordination of care, continuity and transition, emotional support, access to care, information and education, and family and friends. The MGCFA indicated a good fit for the predicted eight‐factor model. Conclusions: Long‐term FAs' care needs are currently not being met, indicating the need for considering how the way healthcare services are arranged and care is provided affects prolonged and high care needs. Various dimensions of patient‐centredness need to be addressed when developing not only FAs' care but also wider service paths. A distinction should be made between long‐ and short‐term frequent attendance when identifying and addressing FAs' service needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to describe the compliance of adolescents with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and some factors connected to compliance. Three hundred individuals aged 13–17 years were randomly selected from the Finnish Social Insurance Institution's register. The questionnaires were sent to the adolescents selected from the register, to be returned directly to the researcher in a self-addressed envelope. Ninety-one percent (n = 274) returned the questionnaire. Response rate was 91%. The data were analysed using the SPSS software. Frequencies and descriptive statistics were computed. The relationship between the variables was analyzed by cross-tabulation, and the significances were tested with the chi-squared test. Eleven percent of the adolescents with JRA felt that they complied fully with the health regimens, 42% placed themselves in the category of satisfactory compliance and the remaining 18% reported poor compliance. The lowest level of compliance was with medication; only 3% showed good compliance. The highest degree of compliance was observed for control visits to doctors or nurses. Variables such as exercise and smoking had statistically significant connections to compliance (P < 0.001). Good motivation; experience of results; a strong sense of normality; energy and willpower; support from the parents, physicians and nurses; a positive attitude towards the disease and treatment; no threat to social, physical and emotional well-being; and no fears of complications or uncontrolled pain explained good compliance (P < 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]