[The position of rheumatology from the perspective of general practitioners. A survey on the quality and extent of medical training, specialty training and postgraduate training of general practitioners for internal medicine].

A high level of competence among general practitioners (GPs) is essential in the primary care of patients with rheumatic diseases. A survey among 172 GPs revealed that GP care for a large number of rheumatologic patients, mostly with non-inflammatory rheumatic disorders. However, compared to the majority of other subspecialties of internal medicine, rheumatology is less well represented in student education, specialty training and postgraduate education.