Identification of family health care provider challenges in comprehensive health centers

Task shifting is one of the human resource development methods that can strengthening the spirit of job while developing employee’s multidimensional perspective. Coinciding with beginning of Health care Reform Plan nationally at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, the title of hygiene/midwifery expert in organizational chart changes to family health-care providers (as task-shifting staff).

This study was conducted with the aim of identification of family health-care provider challenges in comprehensive health centers. Setting and Design: This is a qualitative study that was conducted in comprehensive health centers affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2018.

Interviews were conducted with 18 family health-care workers working at least for 5 years who experience the work condition prior to implementing health‑care reform plan. The first participants through purposeful sampling and subsequent based on the findings of the research were selected. Data collection was implemented by a deep semi-structured interview. The average time of interviews was 55 min. Statistical Analyze Used: Data were analyzed by qualitative content analyzed method.

After summarizing and categorizing the items from the viewpoint of family health-care providers, five main theme (include: attitudinal, educational, motivational, management, and structural challenges) and 15 sub-theme were extracted as challenges of task shifting plan.

Attention to the structural challenges and educational needs of family health-care providers, as well as improvement of management and their attitude and motivation are needed to increasing the quality of services and satisfaction in comprehensive health centers.