Methodological Evaluation of Urban Primary Care Networks in Ethiopia: A Randomized Field Trial for Clinical Outcomes Measurement

Urban primary care networks (PCNs) in Ethiopia aim to improve access to healthcare services for urban populations. However, their effectiveness and efficiency need rigorous evaluation. A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 300 participants across five randomly selected urban primary care centers. Participants were divided into two groups: an intervention group (receiving enhanced services) and a control group (standard care). Data on patient health outcomes, service utilization, and cost-effectiveness were collected. The trial demonstrated that the intervention group experienced a statistically significant improvement in blood pressure readings with a mean difference of -2.5 mmHg compared to the control group (95% CI: -4.0 to -1.0). This study provides evidence for the efficacy of enhanced primary care services and offers insights into best practices for urban healthcare delivery. Further research should be conducted to assess these PCN models in diverse settings across Ethiopia, with particular focus on socioeconomic factors affecting health outcomes. Primary Care Networks, Urban Healthcare Delivery, Randomized Field Trial, Clinical Outcomes Measurement Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p_i)=\beta_0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.