Table 1. Attributes of Primary Health Care, Grouped by Type, Showing Specificity to Primary Health Care and Best Information Source for Measurement

Best Information Source for Evaluation Attribute* Specific to Primary Care Patient Clinician Report Administrative Data Chart Clinical practice attributes Accessibility, fist-contact Yes +++ Accessibility-accommodation Not assessed Comprehensiveness of services No (?) ++ ++ + + Informational continuity (new) Not assessed Management continuity No +++ + Technical quality of clinical care No ++ (peer) ++ Practice structural dimensions Clinical information management No + ++ + + Multidisciplinary team No + +++ Quality improvement process No +++ + System integration No + +++ Person-oriented dimensions Advocacy No ++ ++ Continuity – relational Yes +++ + Cultural sensitivity No +++ + Family-centered care Yes +++ + + Interpersonal communication No +++ + Respectfulness No +++ Whole-person care No +++ + Community-oriented dimensions Client/community participation No ++ ++ Equity Not assessed ++ + + Intersectoral team Yes +++ + Population orientation Yes + ++ + System performance dimensions Accountability No ++ (peer) + (self) ++ Availability No + + (self) ++ Efficiency/productivity No +++ + + = Appropriate source mentioned by 1 or 2 experts; ++ = best source according to several experts (this attribute was introduced at the last consensus event); +++ = best source according to all experts. * Attributes in alphabetical order within groupings. Although the quality of comprehensiveness is not specific to primary health care, the content is. Proposed at the last meeting but not submitted for consensus.