2/2007Parental opinions about their child’s primary care physicians

MAŁGORZATA BANYŚ (Studenckie Koło Naukowe Higieny i Epidemiologii przy Katedrze i Zakładzie Higieny Akademii Medycznej we Wrocławiu; Opiekun: dr n. med. Szymon Brużewicz)

Background
Development of societies and technical progress changed the relationship between patient and his physician. Expectations regarding medical service are far more subtle when the child is concerned. The aim of the present study was to assess the quality of primary care physicians professional contact with the little patient.

Material and methods
Parents of 68 children were interviewed about their primary care physicians.

Results
The majority of children (65%) were always treated by the physician whose expenses were fully covered by public health insurance. 11% of the children are under constant medical care. 60% of parents visit the primary care physicians on the same or the next day after the symptoms were observed. 54% of the children always in-form their parents about alarming symptoms, 43% do it sometimes. All respondents are present during the examination. Injections and taking blood belong to the most feared procedures (81%). 77% of the respondents rated their child’s physician ‘good’ or ‘very good’ (mean 4.09, range 1–5; 5 – ‘very good’).

Key words: child, primary care physicians, parents, child day care centers, physician–patient relationship