H. Alomran et A. Albar, PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS KNOWLEDGE OF AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE IN EASTERN SAUDI-ARABIA, Saudi medical journal, 16(5), 1995, pp. 387-390
Reports on private practitioners' knowledge and attitude towards prima
ry health care (PHC) are few; there are none from the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia (KSA). Objectives and Methods: A questionnaire was used in a c
ross-sectional study in KSA and factors which influenced knowledge and
attitude were examined. Results: Of the 281 practitioners targeted, 2
68 (95%) were reached. The sample contained a fairly equal distributio
n of specialities. However, by nationality, they were predominantly Eg
yptians (54%) and Indians (21%); only 10% were Saudis. Conclusions: Th
e results showed deficient knowledge of and negative attitude towards
PHC among responders. Previous training in PHC emerged as the single m
ost important beneficial factor. More Saudis should be encouraged into
PHC which should be stressed in the undergraduate curriculum. Private
practitioners require regular updating in the field.