ABSTRACT
Aim and objectivesTo assess the community health seeking behavior, knowledge, attitude, practice and the attitude ofprimary health care providers and to determine methodologies for developing of voluntary attendanceof preventive screening services. This included:• Assessment of community knowledge, attitude and practice related with preventive healthservices and health seeking behavior;• Assessment of the attitude of primary health care providers on preventive healthservices;• Identify methodologies to establish a practice of voluntary attendance of preventivescreening services;Materials and MethodsIn this survey both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used. 846 individuals wereinvolved in the quantitative survey and 112 family doctors, nurses, social workers of the selectedaimags and districts participated in the qualitative surveys.ResultsThough the participants demonstrate knowledge that the primary health care facilities should beapproached on the initiative of the patients themselves (85%), while healthy (50%) and for earlydetection of a disease (70%), this knowledge on preventive care is not evolving into actual practiceas most of them visit the primary care facilities only as they become sick (70%). The communityparticipants demonstrate incorrect attitude that preventive services do not require personal initiativesand engagement of patients (42%), primary care facilities are visited in order to obtain a referral tothe next level of care (46%), primary care facilities should be visited only when there are symptoms ofdiseases (32%) and only when the patient has free time. The participants of the survey also noted theinsufficient attitude and communication manners of the doctors and health professionals (31%), thatpatients are not received with smile when they visit for preventive screening (60%), dissatisfaction withthe services of primary care facilities (28%).ConclusionsThe majority of the respondents know that visit to primary health care clinic for health check-up isrequired. Although most of the participants demonstrate knowledge that primary health care unitsshould be visited voluntarily for preventive screening services, most do not practice this knowledge.The attitude of most of the participants was that the benefit of visiting a primary care facility is obtaininga referral to the specialist doctor. One out of three of the survey participants had an incorrect attitude asthey perceive that health check-up is only necessary if a patient is sick with one or more conditions.
