Family Practice, Vol 15, 323-331, Copyright © 1998 by World Organization of Family Doctors
N de Silva and K Mendis
BACKGROUND: National morbidity surveys provide valuable data for monitoring
the health needs of populations, health policy planning and design of
medical curricula. In order to meet a long-standing need for such
information in Sri Lanka, a nationwide general practice morbidity survey
was conducted for the first time in 1996. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify
people's needs by determining the reasons for encounter or the demand for
care with GPs/family physicians, to illustrate the pattern of morbidity in
general practice and to determine the average daily workload of GPs in Sri
Lanka. METHOD: A random sample of 75 GPs were requested to complete a
Practitioner Profile Questionnaire (PPQ) and to record on an encounter form
(EF) the reason/s for encounter (RFE) and problems managed during all
consultations on 4 July. Central coding of the RFEs and problems defined
was done using the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC).
RESULTS: Forty GPs (53.3%) completed the PPQ, while the EF received a
response from 34 (43.3%). The GP profile showed a male to female ratio of
7:1, none below 35 years and none qualified after 1984. The average daily
workload was 74. It was estimated that GPs handle at least 26.5% of the
primary care morbidity. Children accounted for 32% of consultations. There
was a significantly higher proportion of children (P < 0.0001) and of
the elderly (P < 0.05) in the consulting population compared with the
general population. In 2068 encounters, 3448 RFEs and 2087 problems had
been recorded. Respiratory and General chapters included 55% of the RFEs.
By ICPC rubrics, 27 of the top thirty RFEs were for common symptoms. In
addition to acute illnesses, asthma, hypertension and diabetes as well as
preventive care activities were within the top 12 problems managed.
CONCLUSIONS: The fact that many common illnesses, chronic diseases and
preventive treatments are dealt with in general practice shows the
necessity to include family medicine in the undergraduate curriculum of all
medical schools. Undergraduate and postgraduate training in family medicine
should concentrate more on child care and care of the elderly. Suitable
incentives may be necessary to motivate younger doctors to become GPs to
meet the medical care needs of the community.
ORIGINAL CLINICAL RESEARCH
One-day general practice morbidity survey in Sri Lanka
Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
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