Evaluation of the administration frequency of the adults to the Family Health Centers and conditions about taking service for the periodic health examination

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the health status of individuals over 18 years old who applied to family health centers, to determine the frequency of periodic health examinations in health care applications and to evaluate the current presentation of periodic health examination services in health centers. With this study, it was aimed to evaluate the frequency of application for periodic health examination among individuals over the age of 18 who apply to the family health centers and the current presentation status of periodic health examination services in the health centers they apply.

Methods: In this descriptive study, patients who applied to two different family health centers between the dates of 01/07/2019 and 01/09/2019 for any reason over the age of 18 constituted the universe of the research. No sampling method was used in the study. All patients meeting the inclusion criteria within the specified date range were invited to the study; 205 people (22.7%) agreed to participate in the study. Average, standard deviation, and frequency table were used for qualitative data for continuous variables; while investigating the relationship between qualitative data, chi-square test, differences between continuous variables, t test, ANOVA test or their nonparametric equivalents were used.

Results: Ninety-seven point five percent of the individuals who attended the study had visits to any health center due to any complaints. 24.4% of the patients reported that they applied to any physician for periodic health examination. 39.2% of the patients consulted by the physician were told that the health screenings should be performed according to their age. There was a statistically significant relationship between age and educational status and admission to periodic health examination.

Conclusion: As a result of the study, application rates for periodic health examination among those included in the study and periodic health examination recommendation rates to applicants for any reason were low. For physicians, all interviews with the patient should be considered as an opportunity, and in these interviews, counseling about periodic health examinations and shared decision making process with the patient will be the best approach.