Barriers to routine checkups use among Saudis from the perspective of primary care providers A qualitative study

• Published in: Saudi medical journal Vol. 43; no. 6; pp. 618 - 625
• Main Authors: Alzahrani, Ali M., Quronfulah, Baraa S., Felix, Holly C., Khogeer, Asim A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saudi Arabia Saudi Medical Journal 01.06.2022
• Subjects: Adult; Humans; Medical care; Original; Periodic health examinations; Physical diagnosis; Physical Examination; Physicians (General practice); Primary health care; Primary Health Care - methods; Qualitative Research; Saudi Arabia; Surveys; Utilization; Saudi Arabia; routine checkups; barriers to routine checkups use; routine checkups in Saudi Arabia
• ISSN: 0379-5284; 1658-3175
• DOI: 10.15537/smj.2022.43.6.20220090

To explore the perspectives of primary care providers (PCPs) on the low use of and barriers to routine checkups among Saudi adults. A qualitative phenomenological study design was used. Interviews were carried out between (December 2020 and February 2021) with 19 PCPs working at 5 primary healthcare centers (PHCs) operated by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Descriptive statistics were performed to characterize participants, and a directed content analysis was carried out to examine major themes. Primary care providers identified a number of barriers that contributed to a low uptake of routine checkup among Saudis. These barriers to routine checkups were classified into 3 main themes: patient-related barriers, provider-related barriers, and healthcare system-related barriers. Lack of knowledge of patients, crowdedness at PHCs, and busy staff at PHCs were the most frequently mentioned barriers that hamper the use of routine checkups. This study presented new insight into the low use of routine checkups by obtaining the perspective of PCPs. Although results point to potential targets for interventions to increase routine checkups, additional research is recommended with a representative sample of PCPs randomly selected from the healthcare system to inform future policy and decision making related to improving use of routine care available through the Saudi Healthcare System.