Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Bābul (Nov 2018)
Level of Familiarity and Attitude of the Covered Population Regarding the Criteria and Requirements of Iran\'s Urban Family Physician Program
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In the health care system, if the service recipients are familiar with the provided services and the defined criteria and gain a positive attitude, they can help the health team to improve the effectiveness of health interventions while having all the provided benefits in the shortest time possible. The present study was conducted to determine the level of familiarity and attitude of the covered population regarding the criteria and requirements of urban family physician program. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in winter 2016 among the population covered by the urban family physician program who were randomly selected through cluster sampling. There were 10 households in each cluster, and in each household one person over 20 years of age was questioned. The data were collected and evaluated using a researcher-made questionnaire including two parts of individual variables, and familiarity with the program's criteria and requirements using 34 open-ended and closed-ended questions. FINDINGS: Of 1769 surveyed people, the level of familiarity with the urban family physician program in 551 people (31.1%) was low, in 695 people (39.3%) was moderate, and in 523 people (29.6%) was high. 846 people (56.1%) had a positive attitude and 663 people (43.9%) had a negative attitude toward the criteria and requirements of the program. Eight personal and social variables were effective in the level of familiarity and six variables were effective in the attitude level of individuals (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that more than 50% of the covered population had familiarity and positive attitude toward the family physician program, while some of the individual and social variables were also effective.
