The knowledge and attitudes of family physicians in edirne city center regarding community orientation

This study examines the knowledge and attitudes of family physicians in the central district of Edirne regarding the community-oriented approach in healthcare delivery. The research aims to evaluate the knowledge levels and attitudes of family physicians toward community orientation in relation to sociodemographic characteristics, evidence-based medical practices, and environmental sustainability. The goal of the study is to enhance physicians' contributions to public health and raise awareness in this area. This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted with 52 family physicians working in family health centers in the central district of Edirne. Participants' sociodemographic data, knowledge levels, and attitudes toward community-oriented healthcare were collected using a questionaire. The data were analyzed to understand the physicians' experiences in general healthcare delivery and their contributions to community health. A total of 52 physicians participated in the study, 27 (51.9%) of whom were female and 25 (48.1%) male. The mean age of the participants was 49.90 ± 7 years. The average age was 52.48 ± 6.51 for males and 47.51 ± 6.61 for females. Among the participants, 38 (73.1%) were general family physicians, while 14 (26.9%) were specialist family physicians. The average age of specialist physicians was 44.06 ± 8.2 years and that of general practitioners was 51.8 ± 5.4. The family physicians had been practicing medicine for an average of 24.5 ± 7.6 years (min: 8, max: 35, median: 25.5) and working as family physicians for an average of 13.2 ± 4.9 years (min: 4, max: 19, median: 16.00). It was found that 26 of the physicians had been practicing medicine for more than 25 years. The findings revealed significant variations in family physicians' knowledge of community-oriented care, particularly regarding evidence-based medicine and environmental sustainability. General practitioners were found to be more inclined than specialists to seek information from independent sources on community health topics. Physicians with 25 or more years of professional experience made greater use of current resources to meet their ongoing educational needs. Female physicians were found to have lower levels of knowledge on topics such as rational drug use, which was attributed to non-professional responsibilities. Moreover, deficiencies in physicians' knowledge about disaster management and infectious diseases were identified as significant risk factors for public health. In conclusion, knowledge and attitudes regarding community orientation play a critical role in the delivery of healthcare services by family physicians. The results of this study highlight the need to increase family physicians' awareness of community health and to strengthen continuous education programs. Since the study was conducted in a limited geographic area, it is recommended that broader research be conducted across Turkey.