Healthcare facility preferences and determinants among hypertensive patients aged 18 and above in the central district of Edirne

This study aims to determine the healthcare facility preferences of hypertensive patients who sought treatment at family health centers in the central district of Edirne for various reasons, as well as the factors influencing these preferences. Data were collected from 330 individuals for this research. Participants included individuals aged 18 and over who were registered with family health centers in Edirne, had hypertension, and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Those with psychiatric disorders or issues that would impede communication were excluded. The survey administered to participants included 7 questions regarding sociodemographic information and 32 questions related to healthcare facility preferences and the reasons for these preferences. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 19 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, serial no: 10240642). Among the participants, 170 (51.05%) were female, and 163 (48.95%) were male, with an average age of 53.33±17.35 years. Educational levels were as follows: 81 participants (24.32%) had completed primary school or lower, 36 (10.81%) had completed middle school, 82 (24.62%) had completed high school, and 134 (40.24%) had completed university or higher. The proportion of smokers was 32.43%, while 70.27% reported not engaging in exercise. Of the participants, 49.55% received diagnoses at state hospitals, 22.82% at university hospitals, 21.92% at private hospitals, and 5.71% at family health centers. When asked where they received hypertension follow-up, 37.54% reported state hospitals, 24.02% private hospitals, 22.52% university hospitals, and 14.11% family health centers. The study found that patients receiving follow-up care at family health centers tended to be older and had lower educational attainment, while those being followed at private or university hospitals were generally younger and had higher educational qualifications. The most common reason for visiting a family physician was to obtain prescriptions for antihypertensive medications (88.59%), whereas the least common reason was for obtaining reports (12.01%). When examining participants' expectations of family physicians regarding hypertension, 302 respondents (90.69%) indicated that they expected their physicians to prescribe medications. The results indicate that patients prefer different healthcare facilities at various stages of their follow-up. The selection of secondary or tertiary healthcare facilities for more detailed examinations, chronic disease management, and report generation suggests that these centers offer more comprehensive equipment, laboratory capabilities, and specialist support. In summary, primary healthcare services equipped with advanced resources can provide faster and more effective solutions to the needs of hypertensive patients. Strengthening primary healthcare services will alleviate the patient load on secondary and tertiary facilities while providing more consistent and long-term solutions for chronic disease management. Keywords: hypertension, patient preference, health facilities, Family Medicine