Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
EUROPEAN GENERAL PRACTICE NETWORK, Timisoara, Romanya, 7 - 10 Mayıs 2015, ss.73
Background: During the long introductory phase of family medicine scheme in Turkey, family medicine
outpatient clinics (FMOC) were established in teaching hospitals in order to create an teaching
environment for residents. After the completion of primary care reforms the presence of university
outpatient clinics become questionable.
Research question: What are the perceptions and experiences of patients regarding FMOC embedded
in teaching hospitals(TH)?
What are the reasons for them to continue seeking family medicine service from teaching hospitals albeit
they all have a family physician(FP) assigned to them in their community?
Method: This is a qualitative study based on focus groups of patients who received health care from both
their assigned family physician and teaching hospital family medicine outpatient clinic during the previous
6 months . Each focus group consisted of 6 to 8 patients who gave their informed consent.
Results: Totally 19 patients were participated to 3 focus group sessions. Among the patients 13 were
female, 10 were primary school graduates. FP’s coordinator role was clearly described. Participants found
health care provided by FMOC in TH has a higher quality, on the other hand continuity of care found to be
better in community primary care centres(CPCC). CPCC is chosen for only “small� health problems
whereas TH is the place to go for serious health problems. TH is described as the place one should go for
diagnostic tests. According to patients, FMOC in TH functions as a hub to access specialist care when
needed.
Conclusions: Clear borders between primary care and hospital care perception of patient’s
underlines fragmented nature of current health care delivery. Patients benefit from the coordination role of
the FMOC in TH most, showing theneed of integrated care between primary care and hospital