Lekarze pierwszego kontaktu w ocenie rodziców dzieci w wieku przedszkolnym

Background. Development of societies and technical progress changed the relationship between patient and his physician. Expectations regarding medical service are far more subtle when the child is concerned. The aim of the present study was to assess the quality of primary care physicians professional contact with the little patient. Material and methods. Parents of 68 children were interviewed about their primary care physicians. Results. The majority of children (65%) were always treated by the physician whose expenses were fully covered by public health insurance. 11 % of the children are under constant medical care. 60% of parents visit the primary care physicians on the same or the next day after the symptoms were observed. 54% of the children always inform their parents about alarming symptoms, 43% do it sometimes. All respondents are present during the examination. Injections and taking blood belong to the most feared procedures (81%). 77% of the respondents rated their child's physician 'good' or 'very good' (mean 4.09, range 1-5; 5 - 'very good'). Conclusions. In spite of certain mistakes physicians do realize parents' expectations. A perfect primary care physicians creates an informal, familiar ambience, treats each child individually and praises the little patient for cooperation during the examination.