The Interrelation of Medical Services Quality with the Organization of Health System in the Region with Difficult Climatic Conditions

Abstract

This article deals with the results of a sociological assessment of the organization of medical activity in the Turochaksky district of Altai Republic. The survey provided information on the locals’ assessment of medical services quality. The author identifies issues which have an impact on the functioning of medical institutions. He proposes a model of the organization of health system in territories with difficult climatic conditions which considers not only specifics of professional activity, but also social aspects of the relations between medical personnel and patients. The additional information is given on respondents’ assessment of their health allowing detecting risk factors which, in their opinion, provoke diseases. The regime and quality of food consumption, degree of dependence on alcohol intake and smoking were determined as well. The survey included questions on the reasons of tendency of certain representatives of a local ethnic group to commit suicide. The social and economic status of respondents was established by means of such indicators as education, employment, a source and the average size of the monthly personal income. When determining the extent of social support two factors were considered: the respondents’ family situation and whether the support comes from relatives during treatment and rehabilitation. Finally, the author analyzed the statistics of diseases in the territory which is served by local hospital.