Community Primary Care-Based Hypertension and Diabetes Management Program in Korea: Evaluation of Participating  Patients and Doctors

Hee-Sun  Kim; Bit-Na  Yoo; Eun-Ji  Lee; Eun-Whan  Lee; Jae Hyun  Park

doi:10.18502/ijph.v51i7.10096

Hee-Sun Kim Office of Policy Research for Future Healthcare, National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Bit-Na Yoo Office of Policy Research for Future Healthcare, National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Eun-Ji Lee Office of Policy Research for Future Healthcare, National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Eun-Whan Lee Office of Ecology & Environment Research, Gyeonggi Research Institute, Suwon, Republic of Korea
Jae Hyun Park Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v51i7.10096

Keywords: Hypertension; Diabetes; Primary care; Chronic disease; Community medicine

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of a community-based primary care program focused on hypertension and diabetes in Korea.

Methods: We selected patients and doctors who participated in the community-based primary care program as study subjects from Aug 2015 to Jan 2016. Patients and physicians completed a survey, and medical records were reviewed to obtain information regarding clinical variables. Change in the baseline recognition of diseases, motivation for changing health behavior, medical services utilization, doctor-patient relationship were assessed after participation in the program.

Results: Both patients and physicians indicated there was improvement in recognition of disease, motivation for changing health behavior, medical services utilization, and doctor-patient relationship (All of recognition scores were above the median point). Patient health behavior such as exercise, smoking, drinking and diet and clinical variables (blood pressure and blood glucose and cholesterol level) also showed significant improvement.

Conclusion: The community-based primary care program was found to be helpful in improving hypertension and diabetes patients’ overall outcomes and their healthcare providers’ behavior.