Usual source and better quality of primary care are associated with lower loneliness scores: a cross-sectional study.

Loneliness is a global issue, and primary care physicians play an important role in assessing and intervening with loneliness. This study aimed to examine the association between having a usual source of care (USC) or a good quality of primary care, and loneliness. The study was conducted in Japan in 2022. Of the 6,000 residents, 1,277 responded to the survey. After adjusting age, sex, educational status, annual household income, self-rated health, living status, and the existence of physical health problems, having USC was statistically significantly associated with lower scores on the UCLA 3-item loneliness scale. The total scores of the Person-Centered Primary Care Measure were also associated with lower loneliness scale scores. The quality of primary care could be a factor to mitigate patient loneliness.