General Practice · Public Health · 56 min ago
Family doctor service barriers and user engagement in Shanghai
A cross-sectional survey of 304 residents contracted with family doctors in Shanghai found moderate-to-high knowledge, attitude and practice scores. Associations between perceived barriers and engagement varied by analysis, and the study cannot establish causality.
- Survey included 304 contracted residents in Shanghai.
- Mean total KAP score was 39.37 (SD 7.99).
- Barrier associations differed between regression and matched analyses.
- Cross-sectional findings do not establish causal direction.
Researchers surveyed 304 residents contracted with family doctors in Minhang District, Shanghai, between January and April 2026. The cross-sectional questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to family doctor services, alongside six dimensions of perceived healthcare barriers. Analyses included correlations, multivariable regression and propensity score matching.
The mean total KAP score was 39.37 (SD 7.99). In unadjusted analyses, KAP differed by several demographic and healthcare-use characteristics. Perceived barriers correlated positively with KAP, most strongly with practice (Spearman’s rₛ=0.298; P<0.001). However, multivariable regression did not find a significant association between total barriers and overall KAP. After propensity score matching, total barriers and the inadaptability dimension were positively associated with KAP; several barrier measures were also associated with practice scores.
The findings describe associations among residents already contracted with family doctors in one urban district, not evidence that barriers increase service engagement. The cross-sectional design cannot determine causal direction, and the authors note that results may not generalize beyond Shanghai. Longitudinal research is needed to validate the findings.
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BMC Public Health: Association between knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding family doctor contract services and perceived healthcare barriers among contracted residents: a cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.