Readiness of general practitioners-family doctors on the prevention of children’s premature death: according to sociological research

Abstract

Purpose — to study and analyze the level of knowledge of general practitioners-family doctors in preventing the premature death of children, to determine ways of increasing their awareness on this problem.
Materials and methods. Sociological survey was conducted of 400 general practitioners, family doctors, who live in Kiev, Kiev and Zakarpattya regions. The majority of respondents are represented by general practitioners-family doctors working in cities (65.75%), over the age of 40 years (66.25%), women made up (82.25%), the number of doctors trained on specialization course «general medical practice — family medicine» (73.25%), doctors who has certificate for the highest (38.50%) and first (32.75%) certification categories working in medical ambulatories (90.75%). The study was conducted according to a specially designed questionnaire. Research methods: mathematical, sociological survey (questioning), statistical, analytical, comparative analysis.
Results. Sociological study established an insufficient level of readiness of general practitioners — family doctors to prevent children's premature mortality: respondents rated their theoretical knowledge of the tactics of actions as insufficient for conditions that threaten a child's life, such as traumatic brain injury (12.25±1.6%), acute asphyxia (9.25±1.4%), burns, including respiratory tract (8.5±1.4% and 8.0±1.4%, respectively), convulsions (7.75±1.3%). The least general practitioners — family doctors possess practical skills in providing medical care for children with traumatic brain injury (16.0±1.8%), croup (15.5±1.8%), and respiratory tract burns (11.5±1.6%), convulsions (10.5±1.5%). The explanatory regular educational work of general practitioners — family doctors with parents on maintaining children's health and learning tactics for conditions that threaten a child's life has low level (21.25±2.0% of respondents organized the work of the school of responsible parenthood, 15.75±1.8% taught parents tactics in conditions that threaten a child's life).
Conclusions. The established insufficient level of theoretical knowledge and practical skills of general practitioners — family doctors in tactics of action in certain conditions that threaten the threaten a child's life requires doctors to be trained on the competent and qualification levels of knowledge in helping children and preventing child mortality.
The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee (LEC) of all institutions.