First Contact Healthcare Providers of Patients before Presenting to a Tertiary-Level Hospital in Bangladesh
Abstract
Background: In Bangladesh, many patients seek care from
informal healthcare providers before accessing tertiary hospitals
due to the limited availability and utilization of formal primary
healthcare services. This study aimed to identify the healthcare
providers who serve as the first point of contact and to evaluate
prescribing patterns at that initial level of care.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Prime
Medical College in Rangpur, Bangladesh, from 1 January
2024 to 30 June 2024. A total of 197 admitted patients were
selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data
on socio-demographic characteristics, presenting complaints,
first-contact healthcare providers, and medications received
prior to hospital presentation were collected and analyzed
using SPSS version 26.0.