Factors affecting chronic disease management and patient-oriented approach of family physicians in Hatay

Aim: Non-communicable chronic diseases are among the priority public health problems. The aim of this study; To evaluate the factors affecting chronic disease management and patient-oriented approaches of physicians in family health centers in Hatay in terms of sociodemographic factors and functioning. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted with Google Forms in 2021. Evren is 502 family physicians in family health centers in Hatay. It was aimed to reach the entire universe, and a total of 308 (61.3%) physicians participated. A questionnaire consisting of 89 questions was applied, including sociodemographic characteristics, functioning, chronic disease management, Patient Physician Orientation Scale, and Physician Perspective of the Chronic Disease Care Assessment Scale. Results: The mean population per family physician was 3400±645.3, the mean number of admissions per day was 63.8±24.0 and the mean examination time was 6.7±3.5 minutes. The most frequent referrals were for "examination" and "drug prescribing". Diseases that had problems in both management and adherence to treatment were diabetes and obesity. According to 44.5% of the physicians, their competence in chronic disease management was "moderate-weak", and the reasons that prevented them were "lack of knowledge and awareness of the patients", "non-adherence to non-drug and drug treatment", "lack of time". The total mean of the participants' Patient Physician Orientation Scale was 44.8±6.8. The total mean of the Chronic Disease Care Assessment Scale Physician's Perspective was 3.41. Conclusion:According to nearly half of the physicians, the chronic disease management competencies are "moderate-weak" and the competency is less in young physicians. Instead of the patient-oriented approach, the "disease-oriented" approach is dominant in physicians. This situation is related to the registered population, the number of applications per day and the examination period. The level of caregiving for chronic diseases of family physicians is "moderate-good", and the view that their workload will be reduced and their motivation and number of health workforce should be improved. Strengthening the undergraduate medical education curriculum and the necessity of continuous and regular vocational education are considered. Keywords: Hatay, Family Physician, Chronic Disease Management, PPOSTR-14