The attitudes and perceptions of doctors at Letaba Hospital towards family medicine discipline : a qualitative study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this research was to develop an understanding of the perceptions and attitudes of doctors in Letaba Hospital about the discipline of Family Medicine. The study objectives were: To identify positive and negative perception of doctors about Family Medicine; to establish doctors’ attitude towards Family Medicine; to identify doctors’ misconceptions about Family Medicine; and the possible reasons for doctors’ misconceptions about Family Medicine. Design: A descriptive exploratory qualitative study was conducted, using individual free attitude interviews. Setting: This study was conducted at Letaba Hospital, which is a referral hospital situated close to Tzaneen, in the Mopani District of Limpopo Province. Results: The main findings of this study were more positive than negative perceptions of other disciplines towards family Medicine. They viewed family medicine as the center of the health care system with prevention being its core business. From eleven themes, a “wheel” model has been developed, describing, on one hand, which key elements could contribute to making the Family Medicine discipline a well-grounded discipline. These include a holistic approach, continuity of care, being community-based and receiving recognition as a specialty. On the other hand, Family Medicine has been defined by various roles that have a positive contribution to the health care system: its role in the district hospitals, support for primary health care, and filling the gaps in the health care system, including surgical skills. Some negative perceptions were identified and these were mostly in line with the status of Family Medicine as a specialty and its surgical abilities. Conclusion: The study concluded that most participants have positive perceptions about the role of Family Medicine, which are similar to the views of the leaders in the discipline itself. Areas of concern for most of the participants include the fact that this area of preventative medicine that has not been given sufficient priority in South Africa when Family Medicine is expected to be dealing with long queues and running the Casualty Department; as well as the lack of surgical skills