Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Bābul (Dec 2003)
General physicians attitudes towards ambulatory medicine training, Guilan Health Care Centers, 2002
Abstract
Background and Objective: Managing of outpatients in private clinics or health care centers is the most important task of general practitioners. Although more attention is now being paid to ambulatory medicine, its training is not only limited to hospital clinics but also is being thought improperly. The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of general practitioners towards ambulatory medicine training. Methods: In this cross sectional study, all of 161 general physicians working in the health care centers in Guilan province were interviewed. Data of sex, age, the university they graduated from, the data they graduated in, whether they work in private clinics and their attitudes towards current ambulatory medicine training were collected by questionnaires. Findings: The result showed that 85 (52.8%) of the subjects had a positive attitude towards ambulatory medicine training but no significant relationship was found between their attitude and the data of their graduating, the university they graduated from, sex and working in private clinics. One hundred and thirty-nine (86.3%) believed that university hospitals should not serve as the only training unit where ambulatory medicine is currently taught there, and health care centers and other clinics can be involved for this purpose. Conclusion: This study showed that more of the general physicians believed that ambulatory medicine training programs need major changes and a shift from besides teaching to ambulatory medicine is necessary.
