Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran , dnshirvani@gmail.com
Abstract: (5793 Views)
Introduction The promotion and development of traditional medicine along with conventional and modern medicine have encountered different achievements and challenges in different societies. The aim of this study was to assess the achievements and challenges of promoting and developing the use of traditional medicine in the Iranian Family Physician Program (FPP) from the viewpoint of managers and administrators. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted via holding 16 expert panels in 2017. The research population included the managers and executers of the implementation of the urban FPP in 28 cities of Fars province, selected by census. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed. Data were analyzed by SPSS 23 at a significant level of <0.05. Findings: Among 347 people, 188 (54.1%) were male, 172 (50.7%) of them had a bachelor's degree. The subjects reported a total number of 341 and 41 achievements with and without repeatability as well as 415 and 63 challenges with and without repeatability, respectively. The most mentioned achievements included reducing the cost of treatment (65 cases), use of industrial medicines (52) and drug complications (50), and finally increased trust and popularity (42); the most mentioned challenges were the lack of necessary infrastructures (63 cases), profitability of brokers and non-professionals, low level of doctors' knowledge (38) and physician opposition (24). There was a significant relationship between the number of achievements and challenges with some of the individual variables (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that the managers have many concerns about misuse and lack of infrastructures required for the FPP in addition to hoping for the promotion and development of the use of traditional medicine in this program.
Ashrafian Amiri H, Kabir M J, Momtahan R, Hassanzadeh-Rostami Z, Nasrollahpour Shirvani S D, Rayatzadeh A et al . Achievements and Challenges of Promoting and Developing the Use of Traditional Medicine in the Iranian Family Physician Program. IHJ 2016; 3 (1) :13-21 URL: http://iahj.ir/article-1-162-en.html