Table 7

Variables used in quantifying quality of records

Variable 1

Therapeutic approach of the issue patient, in the context of the given PCU

Variable 2

Laboratory data, in relation to the laboratory facilities of the given PCU

Variable 3

Community Approach: interrelation between patient's disease and primary care services

Variable 4

Family record: complete genogram or family pedigree, as well as record of existing dynamics within the family

Variable 5

Patient assessment: Prioritising of diagnostic problems and differential diagnosis (organisation of data), as well as the proposed steps and further measures needed for disease management within the primary care services

Variable 6

Management Strategy or Plan: Services suggested by the medical personnel of the PCU for the best possible management of the patient within the primary care services

Variable 7

Utility or Usefulness of primary care: Information related to the parts of the management plan that were actually implemented at the PCU and to the way this implementation offered positive or negative feedback to the PCU

9 and 10

All criteria covering the biopsychosocial point of view, as defined by Prof. Howard F. Stein [14], and in particular:

Variable 8

Information on "Who", i.e. about the subject-person (the way the patient perceives his/her disease or medical condition, and the effects on the patient's relationship with the other members of the family and the community) [3]

Variable 9

Information on "What", i.e. about the disease – illness – sickness perception of the subject, and the effects it has on the biological, functional and social level respectively

Variable 10

Information on "Where", i.e. data on the environment of the patient, and on how this environment affected the patient's medical condition or health problem [24-26]

Belos et al. BMC Medical Education 2005 5:13   doi:10.1186/1472-6920-5-13