Opinions of citizens of the Czech Republic on selected aspects of health care and healthy living

Summary

Background: The Czech Medical Society of JEP – the Society of general Practice periodically monitors the opinions of citizens on selected aspects of health care and healthy living. This publication builds on previous surveys conducted in 2015–2021.

Aim and methods: To conduct a representative sociological survey of citizens’ opinions in the Czech Republic, the method of a guided interview between an interviewer and a respondent (face-to-face), conducted by a professional agency, was chosen. Statistical data processing was carried out with the SASD 1.5.8 (Statistical Analysis of Social Data) program.

Results: Only a small proportion of them have a negative opinion. Their attitude has not changed significantly compared to 2021. Most citizens think that their GP citizens is most often available by phone on the day they need it. Half of citizens would trust a nurse in a GP’s office to independently perform checks on established patients with high blood pressure, high fat levels or diabetes, and more than 40% would trust a nurse to independently treat chronic wounds and prescribe repeat established medications. What most citizens would most appreciate of their GPs is if he or she does exactly what they want and need from him or her. To a lesser extent, they would appreciate it if he treated them according to the current recommendations of the professional society and if he referred them more to specialists. A large majority of citizens in the Czech Republic are in favor of strengthening the prescribing powers of GPs and allowing them to prescribe medicines that are otherwise prescribed by a specialist. In the case of prescribed medicines, citizens would mostly appreciate the same (original) medicine repeatedly, even at the cost of a supplement, or would be happy to take a medicine with the same active ingredient, even if it has a different name. Most citizens send the report from the specialist or hospital by post or deliver it in person to the office. Less than a quarter of patients choose the electronic route of administration. If they suspect memory loss in themselves or a loved one, the largest proportion of respondents said they would seek a GP or specialist. More than ⅔ of citizens, if they become ill with acute upper respiratory tract infection, expect their GP to examine them in person to rule out a serious infection. More than ¾ of citizens do not feel that it is a harm to be cared for by their GP for Ukrainian refugees.

Keywords:

Drugs – general practitioner – primary healthcare – opinions of citizens