Challenges of Implementing Family Physician Program in Urban Communities: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background Family physician program plays a crucial role in promoting community‐based primary healthcare quality. This study aimed to explore the challenges and obstacles of implementing family physician program in an Iranian urban community context.Methods A qualitative study with conventional content analysis approach was conducted. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews until data saturation, and were concurrently analyzed. MAXQDA 10 was used to manage the data. The study was conducted between February and July 2019 in urban health centers of Bonab, Iran. Participants were nineteen healthcare recipients and healthcare providers from urban health centers in Bonab, Iran.Results Three main categories including ‘socio-cultural and economic challenges’, ‘interpersonal communication difficulties’ and ‘inefficient management’ emerged as the challenges of implementing urban family physician program in the community.Conclusions The implementation of family physician program is a long process that is influenced by various factors and elimination of barriers requires developing infrastructures and culture growth and improving the professional settings and interpersonal relationship.