Selfperception of primary health care general physicians’ preparedness for practice:  in Eastern Province Capital of Saudi Arabia

Norah G. Al–Dossary; Nada A. Al–Bunaian

Volume : VI, Issue : IX, September - 2017

Selfperception of primary health care general physicians’ preparedness for practice: in Eastern Province Capital of Saudi Arabia

Norah G. Al Dossary, Nada A. Al Bunaian

Abstract :

General physicians, who play a fundamental role in health care, lack sufficient experience when beginning their post–graduate career. This cross sectional study on PHC general physicians in Dammam aims to assess the self–perception of PHC general physicians� preparedness for practice and evaluate its correlation to their self–satisfaction. Among the 96 PHC GPs invited to participate, 85 responded to a validated, self–administered questionnaire (response rate 88.54%). Only 42.4% of the respondents agreed that medical schools prepared them a little to be excellent residents, with a good foundation of knowledge; however, they overlooked prep� the residents for job skills, self–management, and communication skills. A moderately significant positive correlation was seen between overall perception of university preparation score and self–satisfaction score (R=.359, p value=.001). Findings suggest that junior physicians feel underprepared in essential job skills, self–management, and communication skills, crucial for daily practice. Universities must consider these gaps and provide prior experience before post–graduation practice.