Process, Tools, and the Results of Seasonal Monitoring of Family Physicians′ Performance in Health Network of Northern Provinces in Iran

Monitoring and evaluation of family physicians′ performance are applied to identify strengths, design and implement improving projects, and also to determine the performance indices. The present study aimed to assess the process, tool and results of seasonal monitoring of family physicians performance in northern provinces of Iran.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in the second half of 2012. Study population and samples were all the 47 district health networks in Golestan, Mazandaran and Gilan provinces. Data-collecting instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 3 parts and 32 questions and the data were collected through interviews and observation of documents. Data were analyzed by SPSS17.
From 47 cities studied, 36 cities (77%) underwent seasonal monitoring during four seasons of 2011 and the first and second seasons of 2012. 43 cities (92%) underwent seasonal monitoring by a team from headquarter units. 28 cities (60%) used Excel software for the calculation of seasonal results. Monitoring checklists for 32 cities (68%) were exactly the same as national guidelines while the other 15 cities used different checklists. None of the cities analyzed and interpreted the seasonal performance scores of family physicians in terms of their personal characteristics. Feed back of patient refer to second health service level, laboratory, radiology, average cost and drug list were not performed in all the cities.
The monitoring process and instrument of family physicians′ performance were not complete in all the cities and need to be reviewed and improved.