Epidemiological profile and attitudes of primary care patients attending Farazdak clinic in Riyadh

ABSTRACT

Epidemiological factors and attitudes relating to 148 new patients visiting the Farazdak primary care clinic in Riyadh were studied during a 2-month period. Of the 148 patients 78% were males; 50% were Yemanis and 35% were Saudi; 65% of the patients were married and 30% were single and about 50% of all patients were unskilled labourers. Abdominal pain and low back pain were the commonest presenting symptoms. Minor conditions of the musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal and respiratory systems constituted 90% of the diagnoses and this pattern was very similar to that seen in patients who attended the clinic during 1984. Distance was not a limiting factor for the utilization of the service and patients who viewed their conditions as serious or relatively serious kept their appointments. No significant association was found between attendance and non-attendance with respect to age, sex, education or travel distance. The majority of the patients were satisfied with the services provided but requested provision of drugs and investigations in the clinic itself