Publications

Abstract

Aims and objectives: Describe the demographic and professional profiles of the family physicians. 1. To study the factors associated with practice patterns.

Methodology: It is a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study. The questionnaire included demographic and professional profiles of the family physicians.

Inclusion criteria: 1. Doctors practising as family physicians, who do not hold a postgraduate degree in Family Medicine (those with MBBBS or post-MBBS fellowships or diplomas in FM through distance education) and 2. Doctors practising as family physicians, who hold an NMC-recognised postgraduate degree or diploma in Family Medicine (MD, DNB or DFM-NBEMS). Results and.

Conclusions: The majority of family physicians in India are young, female doctors, concentrated more in the urban area, and the majority have an experience lesser than 15 years, reflecting the recent growth in the number of family physicians. 1. 59.66% of family physicians are engaged in community practice. Community practitioners are predominantly male. 70% practise the entire spectrum of general practice with 80% having a good referral system and 33.6% earning more than 1 lakh. 2. 40% of family physicians are engaged in hospital practice. Hospital practice doctors are predominantly females, 50% practise the entire spectrum of general practice, and 58.69% earn more than 1 lakh per month. 3. 56% of the family physicians have a master degree. Family physicians with a master degree are predominately female, 58% of them are into hospital practice, their practices are well equipped, 55.29% practise the entire spectrum, and 52.9% earn more than 1 lakh per month. 4. There is independent association of practice type with number of working hours, area of practice, in-patient services, and qualification. 5. There is independent association of qualification with gender, years of experience, area of practice, practice type, and income more than 1 lakh per month.