UTILIZATION OF LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS IN AL-KHOBAR, SAUDI ARABIA

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of utilization of laboratory investigations in the Al-Khobar area of Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A two-stage sampling design was used to select a Family Health Records checklist. At the first stage, 5 Primary Health Care Centers were selected out of 9 using a random sampling method. A Family Health Records checklist was selected using a systematic sampling design from each selected Primary Health Care Center at the first stage. RESULTS: The results showed that laboratory investigations were used for 49% of the sample population tested. Of these, 84% recorded a maximum of 3 laboratory tests. In over half of the cases, the tests were inappropriately utilized, 37.8% were underutilized and 13.2% were over-utilized. There was no significant difference in the pattern of utilization between males and females and between Saudi and non-Saudi patients. However, laboratory services were utilized more for patients above the age of 40 years, where an average of 2.1 tests per patient was recorded. CONCLUSION: There was a significant difference between primary health care centers regarding pattern of laboratory utilization. Respiratory disease accounted for the majority of the health problems, followed by diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Microbiology was the most heavily used investigation followed by biochemistry and hematology. Urinalysis was the most frequently requested test followed by blood glucose and complete blood count (CBC). This study highlighted the problems in the utilization of laboratory investigations and led to a number of solutions and recommendations.