الملخص الإنجليزي
Objectives: Pathways to care or care-seeking, which translate into healthcare utilisation, have
been investigated in many parts of the world, but there is a dearth of studies in the Arabian Gulf. The aim of
this study was to examine the characteristics of attendees at primary healthcare centres in northern Oman and
their reasons for visiting. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 676 participants attending
12 primary healthcare centres between June and July 2006. The catchment area was selected to represent the
population structure in Oman. The 12-item questionnaire was read to every fifth eligible patient entering each
healthcare centre for a routine appointment. Analyses were conducted using univariate statistics. Results:
About a third (n = 200; 29.6%) of the participants had a history of chronic illness; 231 (34%) were on regular
medications; 211 (31%) were taking part in health education programmes; 130 (19%) were open to complementary
medicine. The majority of the participants mentioned physician's advice (n = 570; 84%) as the strongest reason
for seeking consultation. Conversely, physician's advice was strongly related to particular demographic factors.
Conclusion: This observational study identified some characteristics and reasons for visiting healthcare facilities
in northern Oman. These are discussed within the context of prevailing sociocultural factors. The implications for
the prevention and detection of ill health in Oman are also discussed.
