Development of the Local Urban Family Physician Model

Author(s):

Jamileh Aqatabar Roudbari, Seiyed Davoud Nasrollahpour Shirvani, Mostafa Javanian and Khadijeh Ezoji*

Background: Urban family physician program is a health-based plan based on disease prevention. This plan began in Mazandaran province as one of the pilot provinces; so far, the implementation of this project has not been possible in all cities in the country. The purpose of this study was to design the native model of urban family physician using the research method. Materials & Methods: In the current qualitative study, data was collected using semi-structured interviews of 40 people including urban family physicians, health care providers, experts and recipients. Questions included the strengths or achievements, weaknesses or challenges of implementing a family physician program and suggestions. With the aim of extracting the components of the model, this information was categorized and analyzed based on the thematic analysis. Results: In this study, achievements, design challenges and strategies were coded separately. Qualitative data analysis in the coding process led to the emergence of 5 main code and 15 sub codes. The main 5 code were named: Financing, financial payments, regulations, organizing and behavioral. Conclusion: The results revealed that each of the main areas obtained in this study requires changes that will allow better implementation and development of this valuable plan to other cities.