Peter Vedsted1, Jan Mainz, Torsten Lauritzen, Frede Olesen. 1. Department of General Practice, The Research Unit for General Practice, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. pv@alm.au.dk
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare patient and GP priorities for general practice care. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was carried out in general practice in Denmark which included 900 consecutive patients aged over 18 years from 15 practices collected in 1995, and 919 randomly sampled GPs in 1999. The postal questionnaire, developed by the EUROPEP group, contained 40 questions about eight aspects of primary care. Participants were asked to state their priorities for each question ranging from "not at all important" to "most important". A reminder questionnaire was sent to non-responders after 2 weeks. Top priority percentages ("very/most important") were calculated for each question as were differences between participant groups. RESULTS: Questionnaires were answered by 771 (85.7%) patients and 584 (64.2%) GPs. Their priorities were highly correlated (r = 0.754, P < 0.001). Patients gave higher priority than GPs to availability and accessibility of the practice and seeing the same GP. The GP should be capable of providing information on illness, investigations and treatments and patient associations, and should know the patient's history and be regularly updated through courses. CONCLUSIONS: Patient and GP priorities for primary care were highly correlated. The higher priority awarded by patients than by GPs to specific aspects of primary care should be acknowledged when organizing and developing general practice.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare patient and GP priorities for general practice care. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was carried out in general practice in Denmark which included 900 consecutive patients aged over 18 years from 15 practices collected in 1995, and 919 randomly sampled GPs in 1999. The postal questionnaire, developed by the EUROPEP group, contained 40 questions about eight aspects of primary care. Participants were asked to state their priorities for each question ranging from "not at all important" to "most important". A reminder questionnaire was sent to non-responders after 2 weeks. Top priority percentages ("very/most important") were calculated for each question as were differences between participant groups. RESULTS: Questionnaires were answered by 771 (85.7%) patients and 584 (64.2%) GPs. Their priorities were highly correlated (r = 0.754, P < 0.001). Patients gave higher priority than GPs to availability and accessibility of the practice and seeing the same GP. The GP should be capable of providing information on illness, investigations and treatments and patient associations, and should know the patient's history and be regularly updated through courses. CONCLUSIONS:Patient and GP priorities for primary care were highly correlated. The higher priority awarded by patients than by GPs to specific aspects of primary care should be acknowledged when organizing and developing general practice.
Authors: Ngaire Kerse; Stephen Buetow; Arch G Mainous; Gregory Young; Gregor Coster; Bruce Arroll Journal: Ann Fam Med Date: 2004 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 5.166