With the increase in chronic diseases and psychological stress globally, more attention is directed towards family medicine as the first line of contact with the patient, due to the role it plays in prevention, early detection and continuous follow-up, in addition to the increasing trends of integrating psychological support within primary health care.
The Eastern Mediterranean Region is witnessing an increasing interest in developing family medicine and primary health care, in light of the challenges associated with chronic diseases, mental health, and the shortage of health personnel in a number of countries in the region.
According to the recently issued annual report of the World Organization of Family Physicians (WONCA), the Eastern Mediterranean Region includes 15 member organizations within a global network extending to 140 countries and territories, representing approximately 500,000 family doctors who care for more than 90% of the world’s population across seven international regions.
This reflects the growing presence of family medicine within global health discussions, especially with regard to chronic diseases, community care and health prevention.
The organization’s data also indicates that there are 132 member organizations and 28 specialized work and interest groups around the world, within the framework of an increasing international trend to enhance the role of family medicine as the first line of communication with patients, the first line of defense for family health, and one of the main axes in the development of modern health care systems.
How does family medicine contribute to reducing rates of chronic diseases?
Prevention and early detection
Dr. Wafa Abdel Salam, a family medicine specialist at one of the medical centers in Doha, says that the specialty of family medicine is one of the most important cornerstones of modern health systems, because it plays a pivotal role in preventing chronic diseases and reducing their spread within society, with a focus on continuous follow-up, early detection, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
She added to Al Jazeera Net that family medicine contributes to reducing the rates of chronic diseases by promoting the concept of prevention before treatment, as family doctors work to conduct periodic examinations and early detection of risk factors associated with diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, which helps reduce complications and raise the chances of controlling the disease in its early stages.
Health awareness and continuous follow-up
Dr. Wafa Abdel Salam explained that the family doctor plays an important role in health awareness, by directing patients towards adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes balanced nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation, and adherence to preventive examinations, stressing that these practices contribute directly to reducing the incidence of non-communicable diseases and improving the quality of life.
Regarding the continuous follow-up of chronic conditions, she explained that this allows monitoring the development of the disease and modifying treatment plans on a regular basis, which reduces the need for hospitalization or complex therapeutic interventions.
She emphasized that the specialty of family medicine also contributes to reducing pressure on hospitals and specialized services, by managing a large proportion of chronic diseases within primary care centers with high efficiency.
She pointed out that investing in family medicine has become a health and strategic necessity in light of the global increase in chronic disease rates.
Mental health and family medicine
With this growth, mental health has emerged as one of the main topics in family medicine programs and discussions, with increasing international calls for the integration of psychological support services within primary health care centers.
In this context, the International Family Physicians Organization launched the MDD Minds for Primary Care program to support family doctors in diagnosing and following up on cases of major depression within primary care clinics, which is medically known as major depressive disorder.
The program relies on electronic training, preparing trainers, and improving the quality of daily clinical practice, thus enhancing the ability of primary care to deal with one of the most common mental health disorders.
According to the International Organization of Family Doctors, the program was implemented in nine countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, and about 2,892 trainees participated in it, with dozens of local training sessions being implemented, in addition to focusing on self-care for health workers in light of professional pressures and job burnout within the health sector.
Specialists believe that this trend reflects a gradual shift in the concept of health care, from focusing on treatment after the onset of the disease, to promoting prevention, comprehensive care, and psychological and social support within society.
Dr. Fatima Al-Zahra, a family medicine consultant at one of the medical centers in Qatar, says that the importance of psychological support within family medicine clinics is evident in building trust between the doctor and the patient, noting that the latter’s feeling of security and that the doctor cares about his feelings as much as he cares about his physical health increases his commitment to treatment and improves physically and psychologically as well.
According to the World Health Organization, mental disorders, most notably depression, are linked to quality of life and treatment adherence among patients with chronic diseases, which prompts many health systems to strengthen mental health services within primary care and bring them closer to the community.
Dr. added: Fatima told Al Jazeera Net that the most prominent psychological disorders that a family doctor can intervene in are depression, anxiety, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic attacks, through continuous follow-up, early diagnosis, and guidance toward appropriate treatment, stressing that the family doctor can provide great support to help the patient recover.
Dr. Wafa agrees with her opinion, stressing that the ongoing relationship between the doctor and the patient contributes to building a deeper understanding of the health condition and the social and psychological factors affecting it, which enhances the effectiveness of the health care provided.
Diabetes and mental health
Dr. Fatima emphasized that family medicine has a major role in reducing the rates of chronic diseases because it focuses on prevention. It builds an ongoing relationship with the patient and follows up on risk factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and thyroid disorders. It gives the patient a healthy lifestyle and provides comprehensive care, thus reducing complications and improving quality of life.
Reports from the World Organization of Family Physicians indicate that more than a thousand diabetic patients were evaluated during the practical implementation stages of the program, in a step that reflects the growing interest in the relationship between chronic diseases and mental health, especially with the rising rates of diabetes and obesity in a number of Middle Eastern countries.