How to assess Person-Centered Care according to professionals? A Delphi study

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To know the perspective of professionals on aspects and dimensions that should be an indispensable part of Person-Centered Care (PCA). DESIGN: Delphi Technique. LOCATION: Primary Care. PARTICIPANTS: 74 medical experts specializing in family and community medicine (FM), teaching tutors, psychologists and sociologists distributed throughout the national territory (January-June 2015). METHODS: They responded to three questionnaires: first, on aspects that a FP should take into account to carry out PCA in all its dimensions. In the second, they asked about the degree of agreement with each item and dimension in which it was classified. The responses were prioritized in a third questionnaire (Likert scale, score range 1-10). RESULTS: The response rate (RR) to the 1st questionnaire was 54.05%, obtaining 84 items, the most frequent Respect and Comprehensive Attention. The 2nd questionnaire with RR = 48.6%, obtained 52 items with a degree of agreement greater than 75%. The RR of the 3rd questionnaire was 52.7%, obtaining 21 items with a score> 9. The highest values corresponded to essential aspects of PCA: respect, comprehensive care, biopsychosocial approach, patient autonomy, and participation in decision-making. CONCLUSIONS: New dimensions were identified: Prevention and health promotion, Resource Management and Clinical Competence, added to those previously described: Biopsychosocial perspective, Doctor as a person, Patient as a person, Doctor-patient relationship and Shared Power and Responsibility. Respect, comprehensive care, the biopsychosocial approach, the patient's autonomy and their participation in decision-making, are the most valued aspects among those selected by the participating professionals.