Physicians' Acceptance and Consumers' Satisfaction Regarding Family Medicine Practice in Alexandria | ||
| Journal of High Institute of Public Health | ||
| Article 3, Volume 32, Issue 2, April 2002, Pages 219-246 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jhiph.2002.206764 | ||
| Author | ||
| Bothaina M.S. Deghedi* | ||
| Primary Health Care Division, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| To improve the health and well-being of the population, the Government of Egypt has made clear that its long-term goal is to achieve the coverage of primary health care services. The current cornerstone of Egypt's primary health care is family practice. The aim of the present study was to assess the family physicians' acceptance and consumers' satisfaction regarding family medicine practice in Alexandria. All family physicians working at family medicine units and centers were included in the study to assess their acceptance of family medicine practice. Moreover, a sample of consumers attending each study family medicine unit and center was selected using a systematic random sampling technique to be included in the study to assess the level of their satisfaction with family practice. A self-administered questionnaire was constructed to collect the required data. Moreover, an observation checklist about certain items of satisfaction was designed and applied on a sub-sample of the studied consumers. The results revealed that the great majority of family physicians [83.3%] had high acceptance of family practice, only 16.7% had moderate acceptance. Moreover, all family physicians [100%] who were working in urban family medicine centers had high acceptance level compared to 70.0% of physicians who were working in rural family medicine units and the difference was statistically significant. Also, physicians who had received training in family practice for six months and one year duration had high acceptance level [100.0% and 85.7% respectively]. It was found that 100% of physicians who had no problems in family practice had high acceptance compared to 82.0% of physicians who had problems. Regarding consumers' satisfaction with family practice, the results revealed that the great majority of consumers were physicians was designed and another interview questionnaire for consumers very satisfied with most of the aspects of access to care and physical environment as well as most of the services provided and care received at the study family medicine units and centers. Also , most of the items were present during observation. However, the dissatisfaction of the consumers with certain services was found as referral services [47.8%], health education programs [53.0%], laboratory services [29.2%], social services [41.7%], emergency services [40.6%], available drugs [41.9%] and drug information on prescription [42.8%]. Therefore, improvement of these services should be considered. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Physicians' Acceptance; Consumers' Satisfaction; Family Medicine Practice; Alexandria | ||
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