Document Detail


The workload of GPs: consultations of patients with psychological and somatic problems compared.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16105369     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: GPs report that patients' psychosocial problems play a part in 20% of all consultations. GPs state that these consultations are more time-consuming and the perceived burden on the GP is higher. AIM: To investigate whether GPs' workload in consultations is related to psychological or social problems of patients. DESIGN OF STUDY: A cross-sectional national survey in general practice, conducted in the Netherlands from 2000-2002. SETTING: One hundred and four general practices in the Netherlands. METHOD: Videotaped consultations (n = 1392) of a representative sample of 142 GPs were used. Consultations were categorised in three groups: consultations with a diagnosis in the International Classification of Primary Care chapter P 'psychological' or Z 'social' (n = 138), a somatic diagnosis but with a psychological background according to the GP (n = 309), or a somatic diagnosis and background (n = 945). Workload measures were consultation length, number of diagnoses and GPs' assessment of sufficiency of patient time. RESULTS: Consultations in which patients' mental health problems play a part (as a diagnosis or in the background) take more time and involve more diagnoses, and the GP is more heavily burdened with feelings of insufficiency of patient time. In consultations with a somatic diagnosis but psychological background, GPs more often experienced a lack of time compared to consultations with a psychological or social diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Consultations in which the GP notices psychosocial problems make heavier demands on the GP's workload than other consultations. Patients' somatic problems that have a psychological background induce the highest perceived burden on the GP.
Authors:
Else M Zantinge; Peter F M Verhaak; Jan J Kerssens; Jozien M Bensing
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners     Volume:  55     ISSN:  0960-1643     ISO Abbreviation:  Br J Gen Pract     Publication Date:  2005 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-08-17     Completed Date:  2005-12-19     Revised Date:  2009-11-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9005323     Medline TA:  Br J Gen Pract     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  609-14     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands. e.zantinge@nivel.nl
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Family Practice / statistics & numerical data*
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders* / epidemiology,  therapy
Middle Aged
Netherlands / epidemiology
Questionnaires
Sex Distribution
Time Factors
Workload / statistics & numerical data*
Comments/Corrections

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