Patient preferences in choosing a primary care physician

Area of Science:

• Primary Care Physician Selection
• Patient-Physician Relationship
• Medical Education

Background:

• Studies identify factors patients value in primary care physicians (PCPs).
• Limited research explores differences in choosing between family medicine (FM) and internal medicine (IM) PCPs.
• Patient knowledge of PCP training scope is often limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify differences in factors important to racially diverse patients selecting FM or IM PCPs.
• To assess patient awareness of PCP training backgrounds (FM vs. IM).
• To compare patient perceptions of PCP selection criteria across different specialties.

Main Methods:

• Observational study utilizing self-administered questionnaires.
• Data collected from adult participants at FM and IM continuity clinics.
• Analysis included descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi-squared, and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Good patient care and communication were the highest-ranked factors for selecting a PCP.
• Significant proportions of patients (48% FM, 35% IM) did not know their PCP's training specialty.
• Over 50% of participants were unfamiliar with their physician's practice scope.

Conclusions:

• Patient care and communication importance is consistent across racial groups.
• Practices should emphasize high-quality care and clear communication.
• Educating patients on FM vs. IM differences is crucial for informed PCP selection.