Journal of Advanced Biomedical Sciences

Background & Objective: Caregivers awareness about family physician program is necessary to achieve its success and goals. This study was conducted to determine the caregivers’ awareness about family physician in urban areas of Fasa.

Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 411 patients referring to family physician clinics affiliated to Fasa University of Medical Sciences in winter 2014. The data were collected by a valid and reliable two-part questionnaire including demographic characteristics and 10 questions on people’s awareness about family physician program. The data were analyzed by using SPSS software version 19 by independent t-test, one-way ANOVA test, and chi square test. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: 17.3%, 61.5%, and 21.2% of people reported appropriate intermediate, and poor awareness about the program, respectively. The mean awareness score  was 58/7 ± 14.5 (based on the score  100). But the mean score of the awareness about the rules and the referral system were higher compared to the awareness of how to get services in non-working hours from doctor, emergency services, hospitalization, and laboratory (9/15 ± 3/67 against 9/16 ± 2/50).

Conclusion: The majority of participants in Fasa family physician program reported average knowledge about this program; therefore, it is essential to improve people knowledge in order to succeed in this program.