Attitudes, behaviors and factors affecting the health care problems of those who attended to a university hospital in Ankara

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the healthcare attitudes of people who applied to certain outpatient clinics of a university hospital. Methods: This research was cross-sectional and was conducted with the participation of 1302 people who applied to outpatient clinics of the Gazi University Hospital. Results: 41.3% of the participants did not know that they had to pay contributions when applying directly to health institutions without an initial referral from a family physician (FP). 33.7% of all initial referrals for newly emerging health complaints were made at state hospitals. 62.8% of the participants reported having had a consultation with a FP within the last year. Of the participants surveyed, 54.6% chose Gazi University Hospital as their first point of contact to report their current health complaints. The following variables increased the likelihood of “applying initially to a FP” and the status of “having applied to a FP in the last year”: low income, proximity of the FP to the home, perception of the FP as competent and the knowledge of the existence of a contribution fee without a FP referral. Conclusion: It has been observed that the people who apply to health institutions are not fully aware of the payment procedures. The community should be informed that those with health problems should first contact the FP. Work should be done to correct the mistrust of the society against the FP