Background In China, Community Health Centers (CHCs) provide primary healthcare (PHC); however, few studies have examined the quality of PHC services experienced by migrant patients. We examined the potential association between the quality of migrant patients’ PHC experiences and the achievement of Patient-Centered Medical Home by CHCs in China. Methods Between August 2019 and September 2021, 482 migrant patients were recruited from ten CHCs in China’s Greater Bay Area. We evaluated CHC service quality using the National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home (NCQA-PCMH) questionnaire. We additionally assessed the quality of migrant patients’ PHC experiences using the Primary Care Assessment Tools (PCAT). General linear models (GLM) were used to examine the association between the quality of migrant patients’ PHC experiences and the achievement of PCMH by CHCs, adjusting for covariates. Results The recruited CHCs performed poorly on PCMH1, Patient-Centered Access (7.2 ± 2.0), and PCMH2, Team-Based Care (7.4 ± 2.5). Similarly, migrant patients assigned low scores to PCAT dimension C—First-contact care—which assesses access (2.98 ± 0.03), and D—Ongoing care (2.89 ± 0.03). On the other hand, higher-quality CHCs were significantly associated with higher total and dimensional PCAT scores, except for dimensions B and J. For example, the total PCAT score increased by 0.11 (95% CI: 0.07–0.16) with each increase of CHC PCMH level. We additionally identified associations between older migrant patients (> 60 years) and total PCAT and dimension scores, except for dimension E. For instance, the average PCAT score for dimension C among older migrant patients increased by 0.42 (95% CI: 0.27–0.57) with each increase of CHC PCMH level. Among younger migrant patients, this dimension only increased by 0.09 (95% CI: 0.03–0.16). Conclusion Migrant patients treated at higher-quality CHCs reported better PHC experiences. All observed associations were stronger for older migrants. Our results may inform future healthcare quality improvement studies that focus on the PHC service needs of migrant patients.

Primary healthcare (PHC) plays an important role in diabetes management; community health centers (CHCs) serve as the main providers of PHC. However, few studies have discussed the association between the service quality of PHC and the effects of diabetes management. In this study, we explored the associations between experiences of PHC in CHCs and glycemic control status in patients with diabetes mellitus. This study was conducted in six CHCs in the Greater Bay Area of China. In total, 418 patients with diabetes mellitus (44% males and 56% females) were recruited between August and October 2019. We evaluated their PHC experiences using the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT) developed by Johns Hopkins and assessed their glycemic control status by measuring their fasting plasma glucose levels. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations between the patients’ PHC experiences and glycemic control status, adjusting for covariates. The patients with good glycemic control had significantly higher total and dimensional PCAT scores compared with those with poor glycemic control (p < 0.05). Higher PCAT scores were significantly associated with a greater adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of good glycemic control for total and dimensional PCAT scores. For example, compared to those with poor glycemic control, the aORs for those with good glycemic control was 8.82 (95% CI = 4.38–17.76) per total PCAT score increasing. Especially, the aORs for those with good glycemic control were 3.92 (95% CI = 2.38–6.44) and 4.73 (95% CI = 2.73–8.20) per dimensional PCAT score of family-centeredness and community orientation increasing, respectively. Better PHC experiences were associated with better diabetes management. In particular, family-centered and community-oriented CHCs may help improve diabetes management in China and other low- and middle-income countries.

Background: In China, Community Health Centers (CHCs) provide PHC; however, few studies have examined the quality of primary healthcare (PHC) services experienced by migrant patients. We examined the potential association between the quality of migrant patients’ PHC experiences and the achievement of Patient-Centered Medical Home by CHCs in China.Methods: Between August 2019 and September 2021, 482 migrant patients were recruited from ten CHCs in China’s Greater Bay Area. We evaluated CHC service quality using the National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home (NCQA-PCMH) questionnaire. We additionally assessed the quality of migrant patients’ PHC experiences using the Primary Care Assessment Tools (PCAT). General linear models (GLM) were used to examine the association between the quality of migrant patients’ PHC experiences and the achievement of PCMH by CHCs, adjusting for covariates.Results: The recruited CHCs performed poorly on PCMH1, Patient-Centered Access (7.2 ± 2.0), and PCMH2, Team-Based Care (7.4 ± 2.5). Similarly, migrant patients assigned low scores to PCAT dimension C—First-contact care—which assesses access (2.98 ± 0.03), and D—Ongoing care (2.89 ± 0.03). On the other hand, higher-quality CHCs were significantly associated with higher total and dimensional PCAT scores, except for dimensions B and J. For example, the total PCAT score increased by 0.11 (95% CI: 0.07–0.16) with each increase of CHC PCMH level. We additionally identified associations between older migrant patients (> 60 years) and total PCAT and dimension scores, except for dimension E. For instance, the average PCAT score for dimension C among older migrant patients increased by 0.42 (95% CI: 0.27–0.57) with each increase of CHC PCMH level. Among younger migrant patients, this dimension only increased by 0.09 (95% CI: 0.03–0.16).Conclusion: Migrant patients treated at higher-quality CHCs reported better PHC experiences. All observed associations were stronger for older migrants. Our results may inform future healthcare quality improvement studies that focus on the PHC service needs of migrant patients.