Quality improvement is the current trend in health care delivery. The Donabedian Model calls for assessment of quality of care along Structure, Process, and Outcome. Objective: To determine and compare the perception, practices and impact of quality improvement among physicians in Pangasinan. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from November 27, 2010 to February 4, 2011. Family physicians (GPs as well) and Specialists of Pangasinan (20% of the population) composed the samples. They were given a self-administered questionnaire designed by the researchers. Results: From the socio-demographic profile, there is almost an equal distribution of sexes among the respondents. There were more generalists than specialists who were able to participate. Most of the specialists are internists, pediatricians, and surgeons. Majority of the generalists (61.2%) are older (belonging to age ranging from 41-60 years old; while majority of the specialists (58.2%) are in the 31-50 years old. The generalists (73.2%) and specialists (85.45%) are usually in private clinic or hospital practice, with almost the same frequency of being in government hospital practice. Only general practitioners or family physicians are employed in government clinics (the MHOs or RHUs). Both groups have almost equal length of practice with the generalists (71.6%) and specialists (74.4%) belonging to 6- 30 years of practice. Majority of both groups have knowledge on morbidity/mortality conference, random chart checks, and RIO/lectures. Both groups agreed that quality activity is useful in their practice, but more generalists look at QA as a useful activity in their practice than their counterpart specialists. There was no difference in the response of both the generalists and specialists and they agreed to the same degree that practicing QA improves patient care. Both groups do agree in their perception that QA places additional time in their practice. Both respondents agreed that financial and honorific incentives are best for physicians to engage in QA. lack of good incentives and time and non-sustainability appear the greatest barriers to QA. The respondents agreed that PhilHealth, the specialty society and Department of Health can conduct QA. All the physicians agreed that lectures and workshops are two of the most acceptable, sustainable and preferred QA activity. Conclusions: The findings showed the positive impact of quality assurance on the practice and perception, and possible future development of QA in the life of Pangasinan physicians. Agreeing in severa! instances in their responses, the GPs/ Family Physicians also have significant differences with their specialist colleagues.
Human ; Adult ; PHYSICIANS