Scrutinizing the Perspective of Family Physician Teams After the first Decade of Implementation of Urban Family Physician Program: A Thematic Qualitative Study from Iran.

Abstract

Background: Urban Family Physician Program (UFPP) passed the first ten years of its age in Iran. In this study, we aimed to determine the strengths and challenges of this program from the viewpoints of family physician (FP) teams to address comprehensive evidences and solutions for its improvement.

Methods: In this qualitative study, using purposeful sampling, 58 members of FP teams from ten cities of Fars province were interviewed. In-depth semistructured phone interviews were performed. The trustworthiness of data was checked using Guba and Lincoln criteria.

Results: Interviewees' mean years of working in UFPP was 6.9 ± 3.5 years. Themes of challenges included: Inefficient governance, Challenging information system, Fragile financing system, Inefficient service provision, Inefficient Health Workforce, and Inadequate medical products and technologies. Themes of strengths included: Improving governance, Comprehensive information system, Improved quality of service delivery, Improved health workforce conditions, Curbing the costs of health systems, and Capability of application of new technologies. The bulk of views were toward challenges compared with the strengths.

Conclusions: After the first decade of running UFPP and regardless of some contradictory opinions among family physician teams, the challenges of this program outweigh its strengths. These evidences address the need for a fundamental reform in this program.