Investigation on the Service Ability of Medical and Preventive Integration of Chronic Diseases Among Primary Care Doctors Across 4 Provinces and 1 City of China
Yin Tao
Jiang Xinyan
Hua Yi
Lu Jiawen
Wang Xuanxuan
Chen Jiaying
Abstract：OBJECTIVE Through investigating and analyzing the integrated medical and preventive service capabilities of primary care physicians in different regions of China,to understand the current status and existing challenges of chronic disease management services at the grassroots level,while exploring improvement strategies.METHODS In August 2020,the research team conducted an online survey using a self-designed questionnaire for primary care physicians across Jiangsu province,Anhui province,Henan province,and Chongqing city,employing Multi-stage stratified sampling and typical sampling.It analyze differences in self-reported competency levels among physicians from different regions,urban-rural areas,and institutional types.RESULTS Among 8,469 surveyed primary care doctors,physicians demonstrated relatively high proficiency in standardized medication use and referral services for chronic diseases,while showing weaker capabilities in patient management for down-tracked patients and community rehabilitation services.Regarding chronic disease diagnosis,physicians in central regions demonstrated significantly higher diagnostic skills for hypertension and diabetes compared to stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Physicians in central regions exhibited higher competency rates than those in eastern and western regions,while rural physicians reported higher self-assessed proficiency than urban counterparts.Among different institutional types,village clinic physicians reported the highest self-reported competency levels.CONCLUSION Although China's primary care physicians have established a foundation in integrated medical and preventive services for chronic diseases,notable gaps and structural disparities remain.Future efforts should focus on strengthening targeted training programs for stroke and COPD diagnosis,further improving community rehabilitation systems and service coordination for down-tracked patient management,and enhancing hospital-physician collaboration through innovations in patient information interoperability and economic incentive mechanisms.
Keywords：primary care doctorschronic diseasesintegrated healthcare service capabilities
Publication Date：2026-01-10
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-11(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 26-32 )