Korean Journal of Family Medicine

Correlation between Usual Source of Care and Medication Adherence in Patients with Hypertension: Han-Kil Kang, Nak-Jin Sung; Korean J Fam Med 2024;45(2):82-88. Published online November 27, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.23.0125

Abstract
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Background
Maintaining a usual source of care (USC), which is crucial for primary healthcare, encompasses initial contact, comprehensive services, coordinated care, and ongoing support. However, limited research exists on the relationship between USC and medication adherence in patients with hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the association between USC and medication adherence among patients with hypertension.
Methods
Data from the 2nd Korea Health Panel Survey 2020 were analyzed. The final sample consisted of 3,318 participants aged 19 years or older diagnosed with hypertension. USC was categorized into three groups: no USC, place only (without a regular doctor), and regular doctor. Medication adherence was assessed using detailed items (dose, frequency, time, no stop) and a 4-point Likert scale. A logistic regression analysis was conducted with control for relevant variables.
Results
Compared to the no USC group, the regular doctor group had significantly higher odds ratios (ORs) for overall perfect/high medication adherence rates: 1.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42–2.03) and 1.59 (95% CI, 1.14–2.20). Similar results were observed for each adherence item, including prefect dose (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.73– 2.63), frequency (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.53–2.28), time (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.43–2.07), and no stop (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.09–2.23)/high frequency (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.21–5.01), time (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.19–4.44). However, the place only group showed no significant differences in medication adherence except for perfect adherence to dose (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.06–1.71).
Conclusion
These findings provide evidence supporting the need for healthcare policies that encourage having a regular doctor in South Korea, which has a healthcare system with limited primary care.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Types of Usual Source of Care and Medication Adherence in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
Yoon-Eui Choi, Nak-Jin Sung
Korean Journal of Family Practice.2025; 15(1): 47. CrossRef
Supply of Primary Care Physicians: A Key Strategy to Reduce Population Mortality
Young Gyu Cho
Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(2): 59. CrossRef

26,953 View
93 Download
1 Web of Science
2 Crossref

Types of Usual Source of Care and Patient-Centered Communications: Daye Kim, Nak-Jin Sung; Korean J Fam Med 2022;43(6):353-360. Published online November 20, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.21.0183

Abstract
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Background
A usual source of care (USC) is related to longitudinal and personalized services, which are attributes of primary care. Patient-centered communication, an important element of patient-centered care, helps physicians understand health problems from a patient’s point of view. We analyzed the association between USC and patient-centered communication.
Methods
Data from the Korea Health Panel 2018 were used in the analysis. Patient-centered communication scores were obtained by combining the four communication-related questionnaire items. Usual source of care types were categorized based on responses to two questionnaire items: no USC, a place without a regular doctor and with a regular doctor. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for confounders.
Results
Good communication rate was higher for those with a regular doctor (71.8%) than for those with no USC (61.8%) or a place only (61.5%). Those with a regular doctor had better communication (odds ratio, 1.49 for individuals with poor/moderate health, and 2.08 for those with good health) than those without a USC after adjusting for confounders. In terms of communication, no difference was observed between individuals with no USC and those with a place only.
Conclusion
Having a regular doctor promotes communication between patients and doctors. Good communication may be a mediator between having a regular doctor and related beneficial outcomes. Better communication by having a regular doctor, along with several other benefits identified in previous studies suggests the need for a health policy that encourages individuals to have regular doctors.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Types of Usual Source of Care and Medication Adherence in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
Yoon-Eui Choi, Nak-Jin Sung
Korean Journal of Family Practice.2025; 15(1): 47. CrossRef
Correlation between Usual Source of Care and Medication Adherence in Patients with Hypertension
Han-Kil Kang, Nak-Jin Sung
Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(2): 82. CrossRef
Determinants of Patient-Centered Communication, Its Impact On Quality of Services, Overall Health Status And Trust In The Healthcare System In The United States
Cuma Çakmak, İsmail Biçer
Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi.2024; 11(4): 630. CrossRef

3,131 View
78 Download
1 Web of Science
3 Crossref

Association between Types of Usual Source of Care and User Perception of Overall Health Care Service Quality in Korea: Nak-Jin Sung, Jae-Ho Lee; Korean J Fam Med 2019;40(3):143-150. Published online November 13, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.17.0093

Abstract
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Background
Patients’ perceptions of care tend to correlate with the quality of care provided. Different health care systems and service environments may show different associations between types of usual source of care (USC) and overall service quality assessment. We attempted to analyze this association as a benefit of having a USC.
Methods
This study used the 2012 Korea Health Panel data version 1.1 as representative national household survey data. The total number of subjects aged 18 years or more was 12,708. The number of subjects in the final analysis was 10,665. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between types of USC and overall health care service quality. The main outcome variable was users’ ratings of the quality of health care service.
Results
People having a usual doctor (n=1,796) were more likely to positively assess the quality of health care they received than those not having a USC (n=7,920; odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–1.60) or with those having only a place as a USC without a usual doctor (n=949; OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.05–1.58) after adjustment for demographic characteristics and health-related variables.
Conclusion
People having a usual doctor rated overall health care service quality as high, which might be due to benefits of primary care attributes related to usual doctors. Further studies are needed to elucidate the causal relationship. This finding implies that health policies encouraging people to have a usual doctor are needed in Korea.

Citations

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Fatores determinantes no reconhecimento de uma fonte usual de cuidado por adolescentes brasileiros
Maísa Mônica Flores Martins, Nília Maria de Brito Lima Prado, Ana Luiza Queiroz Vilasbôas, Rosana Aquino
Ciência & Saúde Coletiva.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Determinants factors in the recognition of a usual source of care by Brazilian adolescents
Maísa Mônica Flores Martins, Nília Maria de Brito Lima Prado, Ana Luiza Queiroz Vilasbôas, Rosana Aquino
Ciência & Saúde Coletiva.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Ações intersetoriais e o reconhecimento de uma fonte de cuidado da atenção primária por adolescentes brasileiros
Maísa Mônica Flores Martins, Nília Maria de Brito Lima Prado, Leila Denise Alves Ferreira Amorim, Ana Luiza Queiroz Vilasbôas, Rosana Aquino
Cadernos de Saúde Pública.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Types of usual sources of care and their association with healthcare outcomes among cancer survivors: a Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) study
Ambrish A. Pandit, Chenghui Li
Journal of Cancer Survivorship.2023; 17(3): 748. CrossRef
How do perceptions of public health measures affect experience of unmet healthcare needs among older Korean adults during COVID-19 pandemic?
Jongnam Hwang, Sujin Kim
Preventive Medicine Reports.2022; 26: 101735. CrossRef
Public Perspectives on Decisions About Emergency Care Seeking for Care Unrelated to COVID-19 During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Rebecca Gale, Samuel Eberlein, Garth Fuller, Carine Khalil, Christopher V. Almario, Brennan M.R. Spiegel
JAMA Network Open.2021; 4(8): e2120940. CrossRef

8,227 View
91 Download
5 Web of Science
6 Crossref

The Effect of Videotaping Students' Interviews with Patients for Interview Skill Education: Woo Sung Lee, Ji Young Hwang, Ji Eun Lim, Sang-Yeon Suh, Ki Heum Park, Nak-Jin Sung; Korean J Fam Med 2013;34(2):90-97. Published online March 20, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2013.34.2.90

Background

The importance of communication between patients and physicians has been proven in many previous studies. The authors analyzed the effect of interview skill education through videotapes which recorded students' interviews with real patients in the outpatient department of family medicine.

Methods

This study was conducted with all students who chose the elective course of family medicine and one randomly selected student every week from an 'infectious internal medicine' class at Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital during the period from December 2008 to March 2011. All students performed a preliminary examination of a new patient at the outpatient department of family medicine. All consultations were videotaped. Feedback to the student was given on the same day by viewing the videotape together. After feedback, all students performed another preliminary examination of one new patient at the department of family medicine the same week. Three family medicine residents scored all videotapes using 10-item interview skill checklists. Many parts of the checklists were modified using the Arizona Clinical Interview Rating Scales.

Results

Thirty-three students participated. Of 10 items, nine showed increased scores after feedback. There was a significant change in four items after feedback: 'type of question' (before 2.36 ± 0.60, after 2.73 ± 0.72), 'timeline' (before 2.82 ± 0.68, after 3.18 ± 0.73), 'positive verbal reinforcement' (before 2.24 ± 0.56, after 2.61 ± 0.90), and the total score (before 21.70 ± 2.62, after 23.39 ± 3.13) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Giving feedback to medical school students on medical interview skills using videotapes of students' preliminary consultations with real patients in outpatient settings, was effective in improving the interview areas of 'type of question,' 'timeline,' 'positive verbal reinforcement,' and the total interview scores.

Citations

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Video feedback combined with peer role-playing: a method to improve the teaching effect of medical undergraduates
Jiwu Wang, Birong Wang, Dan Liu, Yiqun Zhou, Xin Xing, Xianggui Wang, Wei Gao
BMC Medical Education.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Communication skills utilized by physicians in the pediatric outpatient setting
T. Lee, E. C. Lin, H. C. Lin
BMC Health Services Research.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Assessing effective physician-patient communication skills: “Are you listening to me, doc?”
Anthony C. Berman, Darryl S. Chutka
Korean Journal of Medical Education.2016; 28(2): 243. CrossRef
Assessors for communication skills: SPs or healthcare professionals?
Siaw-Cheok Liew, Susmita Dutta, Jagmohni Kaur Sidhu, Ranjit De-Alwis, Nicole Chen, Chew-Fei Sow, Ankur Barua
Medical Teacher.2014; 36(7): 626. CrossRef
Educational Interventions Need to Be Defined Precisely
Kieran Walsh
Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2013; 34(3): 226. CrossRef