Original Research Paper

The Public Perception Of And Attitude Toward Family Medicine As A First-line Healthcare Provider Among The Saudi Community Of The Eastern Province

Abstract :

OBJECTIVESThe purpose of this study is to explore the communitys perceptions and knowledge of and attitudes toward family medicine and the PHCs services in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, and to discover some of the reasons behind not attending the PHCs as the first choice to address a medical issue.MATERIALS AND METHODSA cross-sectional study was done in in Dammam and Al-Khobar cities, Saudi Arabia. 382 randomly selected Saudi subjects were surveyed. Data were collected via a digital mobile-based survey and entered by the data collectors. SPSS version 25 was used to analyze the data.RESULTSOnly 54% of the study population agreed to attend the PHCs as their first choice to address a medical issue. 72.3% of the respondents deemed the ED as a more important specialty than family medicine. The participants attitudes were influenced by their age, education, and occupation.CONCLUSIONSAcceptable perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes about family medicine and its role were noticed among the Saudi community in general. Public awareness campaigns are recommended to optimize full utilization of the PHCs services.

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