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October 2020 -
Volume 18, Issue 10

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From the Editor

Editorial
A. Abyad (Chief Editor)
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Original Contribution

General Population Awareness Regarding Colorectal Cancer and its Determinants in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Shehata Farag Shehata, Mohammed Saeed Alqahtani, Nawaf Ahmad Yahya, Abdullah Ali Aseeri, Mohammed Ali Alotaif, Abdulaziz Ali Abdullah
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93868

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of school teachers regarding acute complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus in Abha city, southwestern Saudi Arabia
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Razan S. Al Humayed
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93869

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Type 2 Diabetic patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Karachi
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Kanza Baig, Tafazzul Hyder Zaidi, Kiran Mehtab, Marium Farid, Shajeeya Khaliq, Wajiha Mukhtar, Shiza Tariq, Fozia Zaidi
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93870

Prevalence and predictors of depression among medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Yousria Badawy, Areej Alsaggaf, Amani Bardi, Omnia Alganmi , Turki Alshehri
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93871

Population and Community studies

Assessment of knowledge and practice of mothers regarding breastfeeding and contraception in the postpartum period in primary care centers, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Aida AlDughaither, Hadeel AlMutairi
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93873

Family History of Cancer, Trend of Genetic Counselling and Screening in Karachi: A Survey among Students of Jinnah Sindh Medical University
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Nazish Jaffar, Syeda Ghadeer Zehra Naqvi, Rohma Momna, Maria Raza, Aliza Babar, Aliya Jafri
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93874

Prevalence of primary headache among King Khalid University students in 2019
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Shehata Farag Shehata, Adnan Q. Al-Malki, Abdulrahman J. Alqahtani, Anas Ali Abo Tamraa, Ahmed Hussain Almutlaq, Ali Saad Alshamrani, Abdulelah Eed Alotaibi, Khalid Mohammed Alotaibi, Khalid Hussein Almutairi, Sultan Ali Alqahtani
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93875

Perceptions of parents regarding polio vaccination in Karachi
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Hareem Arshad, Tafazzul Hyder Zaidi, Kiran Mehtab, Jibraeel Khan Durrani, Amna Anam, Ruqqiya Wahid, Aiman Nisar, Aroosa Hussain, Alia Mehboob, Shujaat Husain, Nadia Rubab Zaidi, Fozia Zaidi
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93876

Awareness and Pattern of Utilizing Family Planning Methods in Married Women of Duwakot, Nepal
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Raut Binod, Kharel Sushil
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93877

'A positive thing by mentioning it':
a qualitative study of experiences of brief physical health interventions for individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness in primary care
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Hassan Awan, Mohsin Allah Ditta, Mick McKeown, Karen Whittaker
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93878

Difficulties facing family physicians in primary health care centers in Abha City, Saudi Arabia
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Hatim Mohammed Ali Alsharafi, Bassam Mousa Khalawy Mokali
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93879

Remote consultations; what you need to know
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Rubena Ali Malik, Philip Sadler
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93880

Bridging The Gap: A review of communication skills challenges for expatriate doctors in the Arabian Gulf
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Asif Parvez Malik, Ameer Muhammad Khan
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.9381

Review

Recognising depression in elderly patients in general practice
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Mohammed Ansary
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93882

Case Report

CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy) in a young adult with migraine
[Abstract]
[pdf]
Mohammed Ansary
DOI: 10.5742MEWFM.2020.93883


Middle East Quality Improvement Program
(MEQUIP QI&CPD)

Chief Editor -
Abdulrazak Abyad MD, MPH, MBA, AGSF, AFCHSE
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Email: aabyad@cyberia.net.lb
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medi+WORLD International
AUSTRALIA
Email: lesleypocock@mediworld.com.au
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abyad@cyberia.net.lb
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October 2020 - Volume 18, Issue 10

Difficulties facing family physicians in primary health care centers in Abha City, Saudi Arabia

Hatim Mohammed Ali Alsharafi (1)
Bassam Mousa Khalawy Mokali (2)

(1) Department of family medicine, Armed Forces Hospitals, Southern Region, Saudi Arabia
(2) Intern, King Khalid University, Abha City, Saudi Arabia

Corresponding Author:
Dr. Hatim Mohammed Ali AlsharafiDepartment of family medicine, Armed Forces Hospitals, Southern Region, Saudi Arabia
Email: alhatim00@gmail.com

Received: August 2020; Accepted:September 2020; Published: October 1, 2020. Citation: Hatim Mohammed Ali Alsharafi, Bassam Mousa Khalawy Mokali. Difficulties facing family physicians in primary health care centers in Abha City, Saudi Arabia. World Family Medicine. 2020; 18(10): 96-107 DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2020.93879

Abstract

Background: Family medicine is a well-developed specialty in the western world. However, in most Arab countries, family medicine practice is still limited; with several problems that hinder its development.

Objectives: To determine the difficulties facing family physicians in Abha City, Saudi Arabia and to assess their satisfaction regarding their workplaces.

Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among a sample of Saudi family physicians at primary health care (PHC) centers belonging to the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Abha City, Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was developed by the researchers and was used for data collection. It included demographic data, inquiry about various difficulties faced by physicians at workplace and inquiry about their satisfaction regarding their workplaces.

Results: The study included 87 Saudi family medicine physicians. Males represent 52.9% of them. The commonest reported difficulties related to transportation and staff were shortage of nurses (59.8%), unavailability of radiologists (43.7%), unavailability of radiology technicians (35.6%) and unavailability of drivers (33.3%). The most frequently mentioned difficulties related to infrastructure and work environment were the unavailability of cafeteria (58.5%), poor biomedical services (40.2%), unavailability of internet services (40.2%) and unavailability of a toilet for staff (40.2%), while regarding difficultiesrelated to diagnostic, immunization, and pharmacyservices, there were problems receiving radiology reports from referral facilities (58.6%), problems receiving results from reference laboratory (52.9%), insufficient laboratory test kits (37.9%) and unavailability of ultrasound equipment (33.3%). More than one third of the family physicians were satisfied with clinics (41.4%), working hours (41.4%), job (35.6%), and working environment (34.5%). On the other hand, a considerable percentage of them were unsatisfied with laboratory (65.6%), medical records (54.1%), and radiology (49.4%).

Conclusion: Family physicians working at PHC centers in Abha city, face several difficulties, which significantly affect their satisfaction with workplace and could impair quality of care delivered to patients.

Key words: Family Medicine, Primary health care, Difficulties, Satisfaction, Saudi Arabia.

 







 


 
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