What is it about?

This study explored the knowledge, training needs, and challenges faced by general practitioners (GPs) working in primary healthcare centers under Emirates Health Services (EHS) in the United Arab Emirates. GPs play a key role in providing first-contact care for patients, managing common illnesses, chronic diseases, and preventive health services. However, limited information is available about their educational needs and the barriers they encounter in daily practice. A survey was conducted among GPs across multiple EHS primary healthcare centers to assess their confidence in managing common medical conditions, chronic diseases, and women’s and children’s health issues, as well as their professional development needs. The study found that most GPs reported high levels of knowledge in managing common conditions and moderate to high knowledge in other clinical areas. Despite this, many doctors expressed a strong need for further training to keep up with evolving medical guidelines and patient care demands. The most commonly reported challenges included limited time during consultations, heavy workloads, and difficulties balancing clinical duties with ongoing education. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening continuing medical education programs and providing flexible learning opportunities to support primary care physicians and improve the quality of healthcare delivery.

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Why is it important?

Primary healthcare systems rely heavily on general practitioners (GPs) as the first point of contact for patients. Ensuring that these physicians have the necessary knowledge, training opportunities, and institutional support is essential for maintaining high-quality healthcare services. Despite the critical role of GPs in the United Arab Emirates, limited research has examined their knowledge levels, professional development needs, and the barriers they encounter in routine primary care practice. This study is important because it provides one of the first comprehensive assessments of these factors among GPs working within Emirates Health Services primary healthcare centers. By identifying both strengths in clinical knowledge and gaps in continuing professional development, the study highlights areas where targeted training programs and policy interventions may be needed. In addition, understanding the barriers faced by physicians—such as time constraints, workload pressures, and limited access to flexible learning opportunities—can help healthcare institutions design more effective support systems. The findings can inform future educational strategies, strengthen continuing medical education programs, and ultimately contribute to improving the quality and sustainability of primary healthcare delivery in the UAE.

Perspectives

From my perspective as a researcher and clinician working within the primary healthcare system, this study highlights the critical role that general practitioners play in delivering comprehensive and continuous care to the community. While the findings show that many GPs possess strong clinical knowledge in managing common conditions, they also reveal the persistent need for structured continuing professional development and institutional support. In daily practice, primary care physicians must manage diverse clinical problems within limited consultation time, often while balancing administrative duties and evolving clinical guidelines. Conducting this study provided valuable insight into the real challenges faced by frontline physicians, including workload pressures, limited protected time for education, and difficulties accessing flexible training opportunities. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure that GPs remain confident and up to date in managing complex and chronic conditions. I believe that strengthening accessible and context-specific continuing medical education programs—particularly through blended learning approaches that combine in-person and digital formats—could significantly enhance physician competence and ultimately improve patient outcomes within primary healthcare systems.

Dr. Zainab Alameeri
Emirates Health Services

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Assessment of General Practitioners’ Knowledge, Needs, and Barriers in Primary Healthcare Delivery in Emirates Health Services, United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study, Cureus, April 2026, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.107196.
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