Knowledge and satisfaction levels of residents in specialties other than family medicine regarding primary care services in Türkiye

Family medicine is one of the most significant components of recent healthcare reforms in Türkiye. While family physicians form the backbone of primary healthcare, they also work in coordination with secondary and tertiary healthcare services. To build a strong multidisciplinary structure among medical specialties, physicians from other disciplines must possess adequate knowledge of primary healthcare services. This study aimed to evaluate both the knowledge levels of residents in specialties other than family medicine about family medicine residents and their perspectives on these practices. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 367 participants who were residents in specialties other than family medicine in Ankara where the capital city of Türkiye. Data were collected online via a Google Forms survey between March 8 and September 8, 2023, using a questionnaire developed based on the literature and the General Assessment Scale for Family Medicine Practice. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29. It was found that residents in specialties other than family medicine had limited knowledge about services provided at family health centers(FHCs), such as preventive care, cancer screenings, and immunization programs. The mean overall score on the General Assessment Scale for Family Medicine Practice was 3.17 (SD: ± 0.51), corresponding to a “moderate” level of perception. To foster effective multidisciplinary collaboration among specialties, the knowledge gap among physicians from other disciplines regarding primary healthcare services needs to be addressed. Accordingly, professional training programs should be developed to improve physicians’ knowledge and awareness in this field.