Investigation on the Cognitive Status of Community Medical Staff and Patients towards General Practitioners in Neijiang City

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the cognitive status of community medical staff and patients in Neijiang City towards general practitioners, and analyze the current cognitive status, cognitive needs, and the importance of knowledge dissemination and intervention regarding general practitioners. Methods: A total of 50 community medical staff and patients in Neijiang City were selected for a questionnaire survey conducted from April 2023 to March 2025. A self-designed questionnaire on the concepts of multimorbidity and general practitioners was employed, and the survey was carried out twice, before and after the dissemination of general practice knowledge. Based on the demographic characteristics of the participants and the differences in survey results before and after the knowledge dissemination, the influencing factors and cognitive needs of community medical staff and patients towards general practitioners at this stage were analyzed. Results: Individuals under the age of 35 acquired knowledge mainly through community education (50.00%) and electronic media (50.00%), while those aged 35–65 and over 65 primarily learned through peers, accounting for 57.14% and 48.72%, respectively. After general practice education, among individuals aged ≤ 65, those with a college degree or higher demonstrated higher rates of multimorbidity and met the criteria for family doctor awareness compared to those aged > 65 with a high school diploma or lower, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that educational attainment (college degree or higher) served as a protective factor for high awareness levels among general practitioners, while age (> 65 years) emerged as a risk factor for high awareness levels among general practitioners, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Conclusion: To enhance the knowledge and awareness levels of general practitioners among community medical staff and patients, it is imperative to actively expand channels for proactive acquisition of relevant knowledge through education and outreach. Additionally, targeted educational efforts should be intensified for individuals with lower educational attainment and older age groups to establish a public awareness foundation for the effective promotion of general practitioner-led healthcare initiatives at the grassroots level.