Perceptions of specialists in the public sector, on the role and value of family medicine
Background: Family medicine (FM) is often perceived to be a ‘lesser’ speciality compared with other disciplines, despite its importance as a generalist discipline in the healthcare system. Family physicians (FPs) provide comprehensive care at the district level and act as a gatekeeper for patient’s...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | South African Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5628 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849737706100228096 |
|---|---|
| author | Rihangwele Mukhinindi Andrew J. Ross |
| author_facet | Rihangwele Mukhinindi Andrew J. Ross |
| author_sort | Rihangwele Mukhinindi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Family medicine (FM) is often perceived to be a ‘lesser’ speciality compared with other disciplines, despite its importance as a generalist discipline in the healthcare system. Family physicians (FPs) provide comprehensive care at the district level and act as a gatekeeper for patient’s upward referral to other specialists. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of healthcare specialists other than FPs involved in registrar training regarding FM at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (SA).
Methods: This was a qualitative study, with seven consultants, other than FPs, who worked at three public sector regional hospitals using purposive sampling. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.
Results: Four themes emerged (perception of FM as a medical speciality, role of FPs in the healthcare system and proposed National Health Insurance, FM registrars rotating in units and the scope of their training and how to improve the perceptions of FM by other specialities). Family medicine was regarded as a major and relevant specialist field with a significant contribution to make in advancing patients’ care. The country’s healthcare system is yet to make the best use of the FM specialist’s role in improving quality of care.
Conclusion: The perceptions of FM from other specialists were generally positive and reinforced its importance in facilitating improved healthcare in SA. These specialists have high regard for FM and emphasised the large responsibility of practitioners. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-509a80b0c95a4d6cb37f98d7e0c4729f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-509a80b0c95a4d6cb37f98d7e0c4729f2025-08-20T03:06:51ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042022-11-01641e1e710.4102/safp.v64i1.56284273Perceptions of specialists in the public sector, on the role and value of family medicineRihangwele Mukhinindi0Andrew J. Ross1Department of Family Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanDepartment of Family Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanBackground: Family medicine (FM) is often perceived to be a ‘lesser’ speciality compared with other disciplines, despite its importance as a generalist discipline in the healthcare system. Family physicians (FPs) provide comprehensive care at the district level and act as a gatekeeper for patient’s upward referral to other specialists. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of healthcare specialists other than FPs involved in registrar training regarding FM at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (SA). Methods: This was a qualitative study, with seven consultants, other than FPs, who worked at three public sector regional hospitals using purposive sampling. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results: Four themes emerged (perception of FM as a medical speciality, role of FPs in the healthcare system and proposed National Health Insurance, FM registrars rotating in units and the scope of their training and how to improve the perceptions of FM by other specialities). Family medicine was regarded as a major and relevant specialist field with a significant contribution to make in advancing patients’ care. The country’s healthcare system is yet to make the best use of the FM specialist’s role in improving quality of care. Conclusion: The perceptions of FM from other specialists were generally positive and reinforced its importance in facilitating improved healthcare in SA. These specialists have high regard for FM and emphasised the large responsibility of practitioners.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5628family medicinefamily physicianfamily specialistspecialistperceptiondisciplinespecialist discipline |
| spellingShingle | Rihangwele Mukhinindi Andrew J. Ross Perceptions of specialists in the public sector, on the role and value of family medicine South African Family Practice family medicine family physician family specialist specialist perception discipline specialist discipline |
| title | Perceptions of specialists in the public sector, on the role and value of family medicine |
| title_full | Perceptions of specialists in the public sector, on the role and value of family medicine |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions of specialists in the public sector, on the role and value of family medicine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions of specialists in the public sector, on the role and value of family medicine |
| title_short | Perceptions of specialists in the public sector, on the role and value of family medicine |
| title_sort | perceptions of specialists in the public sector on the role and value of family medicine |
| topic | family medicine family physician family specialist specialist perception discipline specialist discipline |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5628 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rihangwelemukhinindi perceptionsofspecialistsinthepublicsectorontheroleandvalueoffamilymedicine AT andrewjross perceptionsofspecialistsinthepublicsectorontheroleandvalueoffamilymedicine |