International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-7802952018051319131913ENHealth Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, ShirazHealth Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, ShirazHealth Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, ShirazHealth Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, ShirazDepartment of Health, Larestan School of Medical Science, LarestanDepartment of Health, Larestan School of Medical Science, LarestanDepartment of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz20180512<p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Introduction</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Urban family physician program (UFPP) was launched in Fars province of Iran in 2012. We aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of people toward this 5‑year‑old program. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Methods</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">In this population‑based study, through a multistage random sampling from 6 cities of Fars province, 1350 people older than 18 years were interviewed. For data collection, a questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic characteristics and items about knowledge and<br />practice toward UFPP was used. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Results</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">The mean age of the interviewees was 42.4 ± 14.2 years; male (674; 49.9%)‑to‑female (651; 48.2%) ratio was 1.03. Mean score of knowledge was 4.2 ± 1.7 (out of 14), while 961 (71.1%) had &lt;50% of the desirable knowledge. Mean score<br />of practice was 4.4 ± 1.3 (out of 9), while only 443 (32.8%) had a good performance toward this program. Knowledge and practice did not show a signifcant correlation (</span><span class="fontstyle3">r </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.06, </span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.05). Among cities, the highest and the lowest mean of knowledge belonged to Pasargad (5.6 ± 2.1)<br />and Lar (3.0 ± 1.0) (</span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">&lt; 0.001), respectively. Pasargad (4.8 ± 1.4) had also the highest level of practice compared to Farashband (3.8 ± 1.4) which had the lowest score (</span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">&lt; 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that supplemental insurance coverage (odds ratio [OR] = 2.5, %95 confdence<br />interval [CI]: 1.6–3.9), female gender (OR = 1.9, %95 CI: 1.2–2.9) and higher level of education (OR = 1.7, %95 CI: 1.1–2.5) were the signifcant determinants of knowledge, while practice in those who were not covered by supplemental insurance was better (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2‑2.5).<br /></span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Conclusions</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">After 5 years of implementation of UFPP, knowledge and practice of people toward UFPP are not satisfactory. This fnding calls for a serious revision in some aspects of UFFP.</span></p><p><span class="fontstyle2"><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Keywords</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Family physician program, knowledge, practice, urban population</span> <br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /></span></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1913http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1913/717717737