Table 3.

Effect of Primary Care Versus Specialty Care on Quality of Medical Care Experiences: Results of Multiple Regressions

Model 1* (Unadjusted)Model 2 (Adjusted)
Standardized Coefficients (SE)tScoreStandardized Coefficients (SE)tScore
Overall primary care experience0.23 (1.61)5.820.14 (1.75)3.19§
First contact (utilization)0.14 (0.21)3.530.08 (0.25)1.64
First contact (access)0.26 (0.23)6.730.25 (0.26)5.85
Ongoing care0.12 (0.24)2.95§0.05 (0.27)1.21
Coordination (referrals)0.07 (0.23)1.870.00 (0.27)−0.09
Coordination (information systems)0.10 (0.23)2.430.09 (0.28)1.85
Comprehensiveness (services available)0.14 (0.19)3.430.08 (0.22)1.77
Comprehensiveness (services provided)0.32 (0.36)8.370.09 (0.37)2.33
Family centeredness0.13 (0.19)3.380.04 (0.22)0.97
Community orientation0.19 (0.17)4.980.15 (0.19)3.34
Cultural competence0.13 (0.17)3.390.16 (0.20)3.45
  • In this table, the reference group is specialty care.

  • * The independent variable in model 1 is physician specialty (primary care vs specialty care).

  • In model 2, independent variables included patients’ sex, age, education, employment, household income, health status, physical/mental health problem, and additional private health insurance in addition to physician specialty.

  • P < .001.

  • § P < .01.

  • P < .05.