Defining comprehensiveness in primary care: a scoping review

Abstract

Introduction The term comprehensiveness was introduced into the literature as early as the 1960s and is regarded as a core attribute of primary care. Although comprehensive care is a primary care research priority encompassing patient and provider experience, cost, and health outcomes, there has been a lack of focus on consolidating existing definitions. Aim To unify definitions of comprehensiveness in primary care. Methods The PRISMA extension for scoping reviews was followed, hierarchically filtering ‘comprehensiveness’ MeSH terms and literature-defined affiliated terms. Snowballing methods were used to include additional literature from known experts. Articles were systematically reviewed with a three-clinician team. Results The initial search populated 679 607 articles, of which 25 were included. Identified key terms include: whole-person care (WPC), range of services, and referral to specialty care. WPC is the extent which primary care physicians (PCPs) consider the physical, emotional, and social aspects of a patient’s health. It has been shown to positively impact clinical costs and outcomes, satisfaction, and trust. Range of services encompasses most health problems to reduce unnecessary spending on specialty care and promote continuity. Referral to specialty care is utilized when PCPs cannot provide the necessary services – balancing depth and breadth of care with the limitations of primary care scope. Discussion This scoping review unified the interrelatedness of comprehensiveness’s main aspects – whole-person care, range of services, and referral to specialty care – framing a working, evidence-based definition: managing most medical care needs and temporarily complementing care with special integrated services in the context of patient’s values, preferences, and beliefs.