Development and validation of elderly friendly primary health care in East Azarbaijan province in 1401

Abstract

Abstract Introduction and purpose: increasing life expectancy is one of the achievements of the 21st century, and improving health indicators, reducing mortality and reducing fertility rates have caused demographic transition and an increase in the elderly population around the world. After the implementation of primary health care (PHC) programs in Iran, the evaluations show that despite the rapid development and progress, including the improvement of health indicators, this system has many weaknesses in providing services to the elderly population, including, lack of transparency of service packages, specific organizational structures, and lack of geriatric specialists, which is considered a threat to the future of the country. Elderly-friendly primary health care is, in fact, essential health services that are tailored to the physical limitations and mental conditions of the elderly. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive framework for developing standards for elderly-friendly primary health care indicators to increase self-care capability and create an elderly-friendly environment to ultimately help improve service delivery. Methodology: The intended study is a qualitative study with the aim of developing and validating elderly-friendly primary health care. First, a comprehensive review of the subject was conducted, and then the opinions of experts and elderly were extracted through semi-structured interviews. The participants of this study included 10 experts and professors in the field of geriatrics. In order to compile the indicators and standards of the elderly friendly, from the extensive review of the studies conducted in Iran and the world, the standards and interviews were summarized after content analysis and sent to the experts in the field of aging for validation using the Delphi method.

Findings: At this stage, first by examining 11 sources and articles, 44 main areas and 140 sub-areas were extracted from the studies, and by summarizing and removing duplicate items and merging similar items, finally 16 main areas and 54 sub-areas were finalized. The lowest median in the importance of indicators and standards belongs to the indicators developed in the area of access to primary health care centers, and the highest median importance belongs to the five areas of policy making, planning processes related to the elderly, principles of respect and dealing with The elderly are the principles of care and providing services to the elderly and education to the elderly. In terms of the implementation capability of indicators and standards, the lowest average is in the area of physical environment, special facilities and equipment and appropriate to the conditions, and the highest average belongs to the areas of policymaking and planning processes related to the elderly.

Conclusion: In this study, the indicators and standards of elderly-friendly primary care specific to Iran's health system were designed, which after completion and review from the perspective of the health system's policy makers, if implemented, can play a significant role in improving the health care provision. Primary to the elderly have.