Providing Physical Resources and Requirements for the Implementation of the Family physician Program in Iran: From Theory to Practice

The urban physician program as a new health program requires the provision of resources and facilities. This study aimed to investigate the status of physical resources and related requirements in the family physician program in Fars and Mazandaran provinces. This cross-sectional study was carried out in winter 2016. According to the sample size estimation, 98 clinics and centers, in Mazandaran province, and 135 clinics and centers, in Fars province, were selected by a systematic random sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire; its validity and reliability were confirmed. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests. Out of 233 studied units, 105 (45.3%) had more than one physician. The structural status of the physical space in 183 units (79.9%) and the general cleaning of 178 units (78.1%) were desirable. The specification of service providers in the urban family physician program was completed from 42.1% to over 70%. One hundred and four units (45.8%) had an intact EKG, 195 units (85.5%) had an intact Ophthalmoscope, 227 units (97.4%) had an intact laptop or computer, 178 units (77.7%) had an intact gynecology bed, and 125 units (58.8%) had working autoclaves. Concerning supplying physical resources and meeting the requirements, there was mostly a significant difference between the provinces (P < 0.05). The results showed that some of the facilities and requirements were not provided in a number of execution units; so, effective measures must be taken.