Doctors' opinions on clinical coordination between primary and secondary care in the Catalan healthcare system.

Objective: To analyse doctors' opinions on clinical coordination between primary and secondary care in different healthcare networks and on the factors influencing it.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive-interpretative study was conducted, based on semi-structured interviews. A two-stage theoretical sample was designed: 1) healthcare networks with different management models; 2) primary care and secondary care doctors in each network.

Cost-effectiveness of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment in Moderate-Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Introduction: The socioeconomic impact of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is considerable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of treating OSAHS with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and the impact of CPAP compliance.

Methods: This was a retrospective, case-crossover study of 373 patients with OSAHS receiving CPAP.

Development and testing of indicators to measure coordination of clinical information and management across levels of care.

Background: Coordination across levels of care is becoming increasingly important due to rapid advances in technology, high specialisation and changes in the organization of healthcare services; to date, however, the development of indicators to evaluate coordination has been limited. The aim of this study is to develop and test a set of indicators to comprehensively evaluate clinical coordination across levels of care.

Methods: A systematic review of literature was conducted to identify indicators of clinical coordination across levels of care.

A tool for assessing continuity of care across care levels: an extended psychometric validation of the CCAENA questionnaire.

Background: The CCAENA questionnaire was developed to assess care continuity across levels from the patients' perspective. The aim is to provide additional evidence on the psychometric properties of the scales of this questionnaire.

Methods: Cross-sectional study by means of a survey of a random sample of 1500 patients attended in primary and secondary care in three health care areas of the Catalan health care system.

A comprehensive analysis of patients' perceptions of continuity of care and their associated factors.

Objective: To determine the patients' perceived degree of continuity of care between primary and secondary care and to identify contextual and individual factors that influence patients' perceptions of continuity of care.

Design: Cross-sectional study by means of a survey of patients attended to in primary and secondary care.

Setting: Three health-care areas of the Catalonian public health-care system.

Factors associated to experienced continuity of care between primary and outpatient secondary care in the Catalan public healthcare system.

Objective: To analyze patient's reported elements of relational, informational and managerial (dis)continuity between primary and outpatient secondary care and to identify associated factors.

Methods: Cross-sectional study by means of a survey of a random sample of 1500 patients attended in primary and secondary care for the same condition. The study settings consisted of three health areas of the Catalan health system.

[Design and validation of a questionnaire to measure continuity between care levels from the user's perspective].

Objectives: To design and validate an instrument that measures continuity between levels of care from the user's perspective to be applied in any healthcare system providing a continuum of care.

Methods: 1) A questionnaire for the measurement of continuity of care was designed, based on a literature review, and 2) the questionnaire was validated using an expert group, two pretests and a pilot test to a sample of 200 healthcare users. We assessed the questionnaire's comprehensibility, content validity and interviewer burden, as well as the reliability and construct validity of the scale.