Article Figures & Data
Tables
Study Interpersonal Continuity Defined and Measured in Credible Way Study Design Appropriate to Study Question Outcome Studied Applicable to FP Practices Outcome Measured in Credible Way Findings Generalizable to Other Settings Overall Quality of Evidence Note: Scores are the average of independent reviews by 2 authors. FP = family physician; 2 = yes;1 = somewhat; 0 = no. * Cells where authors scores differed by more than 1 point requiring a repeat evaluation and discussion. Charney et al,196721 2 1.5 2 1.5 2 9 Alpert et al, 196822 0 2 2 2 1.5 7.5 Alpert et al,197023 0 2 1.5 0.5 1 5 Gordis & Markowitz, 197124 0.5 2 2 1.5 1 7 Gordis, 197325 0 1.5 1 1 1 4.5 Becker et al,197426,27 0.5 2 1 1* 1.5 6 Starfield et al,197628 1 0.5 1 0 0.5 3 Alpert et al,197629 0 2 2 1 1.5 6.5 Roos et al,198030 2 0.5 1 0.5 0 4 Ettlinger & Freeman,198131 1.5 1.5 2 1.5 2 8.5 Shear et al, 198332 1.5 0* 2 1* 0.5 5 Wasson et al, 198433 2 2 2 2 1 9 Phillips & Shear, 198434 1* 1 2 1.5 1 6.5 Flynn, 198535 2 1 2 1 0.5 6.5 Susman et al, 198936 1 1.5 2 1.5 1* 7 Hjortdahl, 199237 2 1 1.5 1* 1 6.5 Freeman & Richards, 199438 2 0.5 1 0 1 4.5 Petersen et al, 199439 1* 1 1 1 0.5 4.5 Rowley et al, 199540 0 1* 1.5 1.5 0 4 Smith,199541 0 1 1 1 0 3 Sweeney & Gray, 199542 1.5 0.5 2 0.5 2* 6.5 Ettner, 199643 0.5 1.5 2 2 1 7 Lambrew et al, 199644 1.5 1.5 2 1.5 2 8.5 Weiss & Bluestein, 199645 2 2 2 1.5 2 9.5 Flocke et al, 19976 1.5 1 2 1.5 2 8 O’Malley et al, 199746 1 1.5 2 2 1.5 8 Gill & Mainous, 199847 1.5 2 2 2 1 8.5 Mainous & Gill, 199848 2 2 2 2 1 9 O’Connor et al, 199849 1 2 2 2 1.5 8.5 Ettner, 199950 1 1.5 2 1.5 1 7 Howie et al, 199951 1 1 1 0.5 1 4.5 Christakis et al, 200052 2 2 2 1.5 1.5 9 Christakis et al, 200153 2 2 2 2 1 9 Boss & Timbrook, 200154 2 2* 2 2 1* 9 Gallagher et al, 200155 0.5 1 1.5 1.5 1 5.5 Hanninen et al, 200156 1 2 2 2 1.5 8.5 Mainous et al, 200157 2 1 1.5 1.5 1.5 7.5 Overland et al, 200158 2 1.5 2 2 1 8.5 Sturmberg & Schattner, 200159 2 2 1.5 1.5 1.5 8.5 Gill et al, 200260 1 2 2 2 1.5 8.5 Study Interpersonal Continuity Defined and Measured in Credible Way Study Design Appropriate to Study Question Cost Outcome Measured Applicable to FP Practice Cost Measured in Appropriate Manner Outcome Studied Applicable to FP Practices Overall Quality of Evidence Note: Scores are the average of independent reviews by 2 authors. FP = family physician; 2 = yes; 1 = somewhat; 0 = no. * Cells where authors scores differed by more than 1 point requiring a repeat evaluation and discussion. Alpert, 196461 0.5 1 2 1.5 1.5 6.5 Alpert et al, 196822 & 197629 0 1.5 2 2 1.5 7 Heagarty et al, 197062 0 1.5 2 2 1.5 7 Becker et al, 197426,27 0.5 2 1.5 0.5 1 5.5 Hennelly & Boxerman, 197963 1* 0.5 1.5 1.5 1* 5.5 Phillips & Shear, 198434 1* 1 1 0.5 0.5 4 Wasson et al, 198433 2 2 2 2 1 9 Hjortdahl & Borchgrevink, 199164 0.5 1 1.5 1 1 5 Smith, 199541 Sweeney & Gray, 199542 0.5 0 1.5 0.5 0 2.5 Rowley et al, 199540 0 1* 1 1 0.5 3.5 Weiss & Bluestein, 199645 2 2 1.5 2 2 9.5 Cornelius, 199765 1.5 2 2 2 1.5 9 Gill & Mainous, 199847 1.5 1.5 2 1.5 1 7.5 Mainous & Gill, 199848 2 1.5 2 1.5 1 8 Raddish et al, 199966 1 1 2 1.5 1.5 7 Christakis et al, 199967 2 2 2 1.5 1.5 9 Gill et al, 200068 2 1.5 2 2 1 8.5 Meredith et al, 200169 1.5 1.5 1 0.5 0.5 5 Christakis et al, 200153 2 2 2 2 1.5 9.5
Additional Files
Supplemental Tables
Supplemental Table 1. Summary of studies examining interpersonal continuity and care outcome; Supplemental Table 2. Summary of studies examining interpersonal continuity and care outcome by outcome; Supplemental Table 3. Summary of studies examining interpersonal continuity and cost.
Files in this Data Supplement:
- Supplemental data: Table 1 - PDF file, 7 pages, 148 KB
- Supplemental data: Table 2 - PDF file, 8 pages, 186 KB
- Supplemental data: Table 3 - PDF file, 5 pages, 117 KB
The Article in Brief
Continuity of care�the ongoing relationship between an individual doctor and patient�is a core principle: of family medicine. A review of 41 existing research studies found that continuity of care is associated with improved preventive care and lower rates of hospitalization. A review of 20 studies found an association between interpersonal continuity and lower medical costs.
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