Knowledge and attitudes of family physicians in Edirne city center towards person-centered approach

In this study, it was aimed to measure and increase the knowledge and attitudes of contracted family physicians in Edirne province towards the patient-centered approach. The universe of the study consists of 58 contracted family physicians working in family health centers in Edirne city center, and 52 family physicians were reached. After the approval of T.Ü. Scientific Research and Ethics Board, Provincial Health Directorate, a questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic data and Patient-Physician Orientation Scale was applied to the physicians. 51.92% of the physicians participating in our study were female, 80.77% were married, and the average age was 48,73±7.18 years. 16.92% of the physicians were working as specialist family physicians, 67.31% were family physicians, 5.77% were physicians receiving contracted family medicine specialist training, and approximately half of the physicians were residing in the same region as the family health center. When the length of service in the profession was examined, the average length of service was 23.42±7.5 years, the average length of service in primary care was 20.08±8.9 years, the length of service in the current family health center was 9.23±6.9 years and the total number of family health centers worked was 2±0.9 on average. When the distribution of physicians' Patient-Physician Orientation Scale scores was examined, the total average score was 56.1±8.8, the average score in the caring subscale was 29.35±3.7 and the average score in the sharing subscale was 26.75±7. In our study, no statistically significant difference was found between the Patient-Physician Orientation Scale scores and the physicians' marital status, gender, residence status in the work area, age, length of service, length of service in primary care, length of service in the current unit and the number of family health centers worked at. A statistically significant difference was found between the sharing subscale scores and duties of the physicians participating in our study, and it was observed that family physicians scored lower than specialist family physicians and physicians who received contracted family medicine specialist training. As a result of our study, considering that the biopsychosocial approach forms the basis of family medicine, therefore the patient-centered approach shows importance in the family medicine discipline. Considering that family physicians have intense working conditions, we think that regular training should be given importance to increase the awareness of family physicians or to remind them of the patient-centered approach. Key words: Patient-centered approach, PPOS, biopsychosocial approach.