Paediatric primary care quality and accessibility: Parents' perspective.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Primary Care
• Health Services Research
• Patient Satisfaction

Background:

• High-quality pediatric primary care is crucial for improving health outcomes, enhancing access to care, and managing healthcare costs.
• A robust primary care system is linked to better health results, including reduced mortality rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess parental satisfaction with the quality and accessibility of pediatric primary care.
• To compare satisfaction levels based on the type of healthcare provider delivering care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Parents' Perception of Primary Care questionnaire.
• Evidence-based items from the Rourke Baby Record were incorporated to measure satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Most children (66%) received primary care from general practitioners, followed by pediatricians (19%).
• Parental satisfaction was higher when care was provided by general practitioners or pediatricians compared to non-physicians (midwives, chiropractors, nurses).
• Key evidence-based guidance on topics like breastfeeding, safe sleep, and car seat safety was provided to parents in less than half of the cases.

Conclusions:

• Physicians, particularly general practitioners and pediatricians, are the preferred primary care providers for children.
• Parents express greater satisfaction with physician-led pediatric primary care over care from alternative providers.
• There is a significant gap in the delivery of recommended evidence-based guidance during pediatric primary care visits.