The significance of primary healthcare (PHC) in managing diabetes becomes an important area of exploration as China’s healthcare system grapples with efficiency challenges. Amid a non-gatekeeping environment, promoting PHC usage could alleviate the healthcare burden and boost overall system efficacy. This study delves into how diabetic patients in China interact with PHC services and examines the resulting effects on both clinical outcomes and economics.
Study Design and Methods
Researchers carried out a retrospective cohort study in Yuhuan, Zhejiang Province, focusing on 3,672 individuals diagnosed with diabetes from 2016 to 2019. By linking data from varied records spanning 2020 to 2023, they evaluated the continuity of care (COC) using specific measurements like the Continuity of Care Index (COCI) and the Primary Healthcare Index (PHCI). The main objectives centered on hospital visits, glycemic management, and overall healthcare expenditure, analyzed through logistic and linear regression models to account for patient demographics and specific health traits.
Key Findings and Implications
An average PHCI score of 0.73 was observed. Higher PHCI correlated with reduced outpatient expenses, diminished inpatient costs, and a lower risk of hospitalization. Usage of PHC as the primary care provider decreased financial burdens similarly. However, effective glycemic control remained elusive among patients with poorly managed diabetes, even when PHC usage was high. The results indicate PHC’s pivotal role in reducing hospitalization and managing costs in systems lacking gatekeeping mechanisms.
– Enhanced PHCI leads to lower outpatient and inpatient costs.
– Patients using PHC providers are less likely to face hospitalization.
– No significant glycemic control improvement observed in poorly managed diabetes cases with high PHC usage.
Addressing the findings, one realizes the essential role of robust PHC systems in reducing healthcare expenses and hospital visits. However, to better cater to diabetes management, particularly for poorly controlled cases, there should be an expansion of PHC capabilities towards more personalized care and swift hospital referrals when necessary. This approach warrants additional research directed at optimizing PHC for more individualized and efficient diabetes treatment, ultimately enhancing health outcomes for diabetic patients in challenging healthcare situations. The study emphasizes the necessity for policy adjustments to strengthen PHC systems and thereby mitigate the broader healthcare burden.
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