Challenges of Implementing the Family Physician Program: A Qualitative Study in an Iranian Urban Community

The family physician program plays a crucial role in promoting the quality of community‐based primary healthcare. This study aimed to explore the challenges and obstacles of implementing the family physician program in an Iranian urban community context.

A qualitative study design employing a conventional content analysis approach was conducted. The participants were nineteen healthcare recipients and healthcare providers from urban health centers in Bonab, Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews until data saturation, and simultaneous data analysis was conducted. MAXQDA 10 software was used to manage the data. The study was conducted between February and July 2019 at the urban health centers in Bonab, Iran.

The analysis of the collected data yielded three main categories, namely, ‘socio-cultural and economic challenges’, ‘interpersonal communication difficulties’, and ‘inefficient management’. These categories emerged as the challenges faced in implementing the urban family physician program in the community.

The implementation of the family physician program is a long process that is influenced by various factors and the elimination of barriers requires developing infrastructures and culture growth and improving the professional settings and interpersonal relationships.