Views of Managers, Health Care Providers, and Clients About Problems in Implementation of Urban Family Physician Program in Iran: A Qualitative Study



Farzadfar F¹ ; Jafari S² ; Rahmani K³ ; Valiee S⁴ ; Bidarpour F⁵ ; Molasheikhi M⁶ ; Moradi G² Show Affiliations
Source: Scientific Journal of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Published:2017

Abstract

Background and Aim: From 2011 to 2013 some efforts had been made in Iran to implement urban family physician program. The aim of this study was to determine the viewpoints of managers, providers, and clients of health care services about the problems in the implementation of urban family physician program in Iran. Materials and Methods: This study was a qualitative study. Data were collected through holding 21 sessions of focus group discussions and 37 individual interviews with managers, providers, and clients of health care services in Alborz, West Azerbaijan, and Kurdistan Provinces in 2014. Data were analyzed by means of content analysis method. Results: According to the results of this study, the problems on the implementation of urban family physician program in Iran can be classified into seven categories including: financial, cultural, educational, motivational, structural, administrative, and contextual problems. Conclusion: We propose definition and stabilization of the financial resources and establishment of appropriate rules for payments to solve financial problems, and also training of general population and staffs and involvement of the mass media in training to solve the cultural problems. In order to solve the educational problems reforms in medical curriculum are recommended. Motivational problems can be solved via encouraging the private sector and experts to take part in the program and also through guaranteeing the continuity of the program. Establishment of appropriate organizations and provision of protocols are recommended to solve the structural problems. Finally, to overcome the contextual problems it is suggested to promote cross-sectoral and inter-sectoral coordination and also attract support from policy-makers. © 2017, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.