Crossing Borders in Primary Care, Gothenburg, September 3-4, 2012

Maria Concetta MazzeoHygienist and Pediatrician

President of The Independent Group for Primary Health Care Study (GISAP)

The GISAP (Independent Group for Primary Health Care Study) is a multidisciplinary and cultural association born in Italy in 2009.

The Group aims to promote and carry out research and study activities about organization, economics and healthcare policies, oriented to promotion and development of Primary Health Care in national and international contexts.

To promote analysis in the various areas of Primary Health Care, particular attention is deputed to the involvement of professionals with a multidisciplinary background.

PurposePurpose

To evaluate how GPs perceive the meaning of PHC by processing the results of a survey addressing a significantly representative sample of GPs in Italy

TheoryTheory

MethodsMethods

In October 2011 a 12 questions questionnaire has been administered to 850 physicians attending the National Congress of the greatest Italian GPs’ Union (FIMMG)

Findings (1)Findings (1) Age and sex distribution of responding GPs

• 90% GPs• 7% out-of-hours GPs (younger physicians)

Matched the distribution of the GPs present in Italy

• 46% of the GPs selected “health care to patients in their social-familial context”

• 26% “outpatient and home care”

Findings (2)Findings (2)

Among PHC definitions:

With reference to PHC supply places

• >90% General Medicine• 80% Primary Care Pediatricians,

Outpatient Care and Home Care• 50% Residential Care

Findings (3)Findings (3)

FindingsFindingsObstacles to PHC

As main factors hindering the full implementation of PHC there are:

Discussion (1)Discussion (1)

Many GPs are identifying the PHC contexts as their supply places, their roles, their tasks and functions.

They appear considering other places and other PHC professional figures hardly fitting into integrated organizational networks (teamworking)

Discussion (2)Discussion (2)Findings of this study point out the urgent need to create a really integrated health care solution, originating from teamworking teamworking

Cristina Alato°, Ernesto Esposito*, Carmela Le Rose*, Tommasa Maio*, Maria Concetta Mazzeo*, Giacomo Milillo*, Roberta Mochi*, Sergio Pillon*, Silvestro Scotti*, Federico Spandonaro*°, Maria Teresa Zelante*

*Gisap (Independent Group for the Study of Primary Health Care)°Ceis - Centre for Economics and International Studies, Tor Vergata University of Rome