The Factors Associated with the Selection of a Regular Doctor

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The rapid increase in population of old people has been emphasized as a serious social problem even in medical world. Geriatric disease has special characters that can be mentioned as a non-contagious chronic degenerative disease. 'Regular Doctor System' can be considered as one of the efficient ways to care for it continuously. The purpose of this study was to promote the introduction of family doctor system gradually and care of geriatric disease through examination of old people's thinking about 'Regular Doctor System'. METHODS: The result of this study was based on the questionnaire survey on 292 old people(aged 65 and more, response rate 73%) at 2 welfare centers in Seoul, located at Yeongdeungpo-gu and Guro-gu, and 1 college for old people, for 2 weeks from May, 2003. The contents of surveywere consisted of many questions for understanding of old people's thinking about 'Regular Doctor System'. The response method was self-reported. RESULTS: Comparing with other age group surveys, this old people's survey has special character that it has higher affirmative answer rate for the question of 'Do you have a regular doctor?'. The old people's favorite natures of regular doctor were considerateness( 26.9%) and kindness(26.2%). And the most desirable service from their regular doctor was comprehensive health examination( 45.2%). The factors reflecting on selecting of doctor were separately questioned into two aspects, as factors related to doctor's behavior and the others. Among the factors related to doctor's behavior, the effect of medical treatment(22.7%) was top ranked and 'being aware of my disease'(17.3%), 'easy explanation'(15.5%) were followed. The other factors were medical specialty(24,1%), easy access(19.3%) and short waiting time(10.5%). The reasons for changing of doctor were 'to receive specialist's medical treatment'( 37.2%), 'no improvement of patient's condition'(13.1%) and 'distrust of diagnosis'(9.0%). CONCLUSION: The old people wanted considerate and kind attitude from their doctors. The factors, related to doctor's behavior that the old people wanted, were 'good effect of medical treatment', 'being aware of my disease well' and 'easy explanation'. The other factors they wanted were medical specialty, easy accessibility and short waiting time.