Bringing community oriented primary care into an academic training setting: A qualitative study

• Published in: Preventive medicine reports 2023-10, Vol.35, p.102313-102313, Article 102313
• Main Authors: Wang, Mia, Perzynski, Adam, Ronis, Sarah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Community health centers; Primary care; Public health interventions; Qualitative study; Regular
• ISSN: 2211-3355; 2211-3355
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102313

Identify patient-informed strategies through which an urban resident continuity clinic can implement the principles of community oriented primary care (COPC). As part of a larger sequential mixed methods study supporting implementation evaluation of a new urban academic medical center in Cleveland, Ohio, semi-structured telephone interviews using a descriptive phenomenological approach were conducted spring 2021 with patients to explore perspectives regarding community involvement by healthcare providers and what they want clinicians to know about their community. A constant comparative analysis of emerging themes was used to analyze the thematic contents of interviews. Twenty-one participants completed interviews. Almost all thought clinicians’ community involvement is important. Thematic guidance from participants highlighted that clinicians should be: (1) knowledgeable about the Black experience, (2) seen in the community outside the clinic, and (3) aware that “knowing my community is knowing me.” Design with a target community in mind is a necessary but not sufficient step to implement COPC in practice. The visibility of clinicians in community settings is essential for COPC.