Family Doctors Seen through the Eyes of Specialists: A Qualitative Study

Probst, Anna; Natanzon, Iris; Szécsényi, Joachim; Joos, Stefanie

doi:10.1155/2013/729473

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…First, considerably fewer female than male GPs and, in particular, fewer female than male dentists participated in the study for unknown reasons. However, the statements of participating male and female GPs did not differ; this finding was also reported by Probst et al [ 18 ] with regard to GPs and specialists. Thus, it is uncertain whether a new perspective would have been added by a more gender-balanced sample.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…GPs are specialized physicians and (other than dentists) the most visited doctors in Germany [ 13 ]. Although numerous international studies address interprofessional collaboration between GPs and specialists [ 14 – 18 ], pharmacists or nurses [ 19 – 22 ], research has neglected cooperation between GPs and dentists. The abovementioned framework of daily practice hinders quantitative and effective health services research at the interface of these areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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GPs’ and dentists’ experiences and expectations of interprofessional collaboration: findings from a qualitative study in Germany

Sippli

Rieger

Huettig

2017

BMC Health Serv Res

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BackgroundAgainst the background of well-described associations between oral and general health, collaboration between dentists and general practitioners (GP) is crucial to provide therapeutic and preventive patient care. However, in the German health system, GPs and dentists are organizationally separated, implying that interprofessional collaboration can only occur informally and on a voluntary basis. Given the scarce evidence of interprofessional collaboration between dentists and GPs, an explorative study was conducted. This paper outlines the findings of this study with regard to GPs’ and dentists’ experiences and expectations of interprofessional collaboration.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with GPs (n = 15) and dentists (n = 13) from three structurally different regions in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. The interview guide included questions on occasions, expectations and experiences of interprofessional collaboration. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring.ResultsBoth GPs and dentists reported perceived knowledge deficits of the other profession with regard to medication, particularly anticoagulants and bisphosphonates, as well as systemic and general respectively dental diseases. Expectations regarding the scope of collaboration diverge: whereas dentists were interested in extending collaboration, most GPs saw no need for collaboration.ConclusionsThe perceived medical knowledge deficits of the other profession as well as divergent expectations concerning the scope of collaboration hinder profound and regular interprofessional collaboration between GPs and dentists. These perceived knowledge deficits may be rooted in the separate education of dentists and GPs in Germany. Fostering interprofessional education is a promising way to improve cooperation between GPs and dentists in the long term.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GPs’ and dentists’ experiences and expectations of interprofessional collaboration: findings from a qualitative study in Germany

Sippli

Rieger

Huettig

2017

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…This deterioration can be explained by a preclinical curriculum with very little exposure to primary care experiences, and mostly structured by basic science teaching sessions provided by specialists. It has been reported that specialised physicians tend to convey more or less consciously a negative image of general medicine to students during training [11,12]. The perceptions that changed most after three years essentially dealt with extrinsic factors such as prestige, income, financial risk and career opportunities, whereas many intrinsic factors such as perception of patients' profiles and variety of work changed to a lesser extent.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in the perception of primary care practice during the medical curriculum in Geneva, Switzerland

et al. 2015

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Primary care is the pedestal base that should guarantee rapid and efficient access to high-quality care while optimising the experience of the patient and minimising cost [1]. Nevertheless, stagnation or a career shift from primary care to medical specialities has been observed over the last decades [2]. This is predominant in countries such as Switzerland where healthcare organisations rely mainly on specialty care services [3]: fewer than 20% of graduate doctors intend to go into primary care [4,5], whereas 50-60% are needed to cover population needs [6]. Simultaneously, the image of primary care among students suffers [7,8]. Students consider the role of primary care physicians to be versatile and challenging, but too hasty, lonely and uncertain, dealing with non-medical problems and with working conditions difficult to control [9,10]. In 2010, students about to start a medical curriculum in Geneva had to take a preregistration test designed to measure their ability to think and reason abstractly, and to learn from past experiences and apply this learning to specific situations. At the end of the test, they were asked about their career choice and image of primary care. The objective of the present study was to compare the image of primary care among the same students three years later, at the end of the preclinical years, and investigate potential links with gender or intention to work as primary care physician.

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“…[2] Strangely, they are fast disappearing. [3] However, the National Board of Medical Examination has now said that family doctors are crux because they are the backbone of the healthcare industry.…”

Section: Family Doctormentioning

confidence: 99%