Primary Care Physician's Wishes and Influencing Factors Toward Provision of Integrated Health Care
Primary Care Physician's Wishes and Influencing Factors Toward Provision of Integrated Health Care
This questionnaire-based study was focused on understanding primary care physician's wish
 toward provision of integrated health care, associated knowledge and attitude, and analysis
 of influencing factors affecting their choices.
The population is aging rapidly in Taiwan. It has been estimated that 15 years from now, the
 elderly population will comprise over 20% of the general population. Within an aging
 population, the prevalence of chronic illnesses can be expected to increase, and these
 patients with multiple chronic illnesses will likely need a larger allocation of available
 resources with the national health care system. In contrast to a highly-specialized medical
 environment, integrated health care, with its multitude of health and medical services
 including diagnosis, treatment, convalescence, rehabilitation, and health promotion, can
 provide a more efficient synergism between the necessary aspects of delivery, supply,
 management and organization. Literature has shown that multi-disciplinary, well-managed
 chronic illness management can increase the convenience of patient medical visits and also
 decrease medical costs. To provide patients with multiple chronic illnesses more suitable,
 efficient, and higher quality medical care, and to decrease redundant or ill-advised
 medications or procedures, as well as to encourage medical systems to further incorporate
 integrated services to advance the ideal of holistic care, the Bureau of National Health
 Insurance issued the a decree on September 15th, 2009, named "Integrated care model and
 medical system-based integration plan". This questionnaire-based study was focused on
 understanding primary care physician's wish toward provision of integrated health care,
 associated knowledge and attitude, and analysis of influencing factors affecting their
 choices.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  The primary care physicians, who practicing western medicine, with the doctor licenses
 approved by the Department of Health in Taiwan

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  The subjects who are unable to complete the survey independently