General practitioners treating their own family members: a cross-sectional survey in Germany.
Family medicine
General practice
Informal medicine
Primary care
Journal
BMC primary care
ISSN: 2731-4553
Titre abrégé: BMC Prim Care
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9918300889006676
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
03 02 2022
03 02 2022
Historique:
received:
16
08
2021
accepted:
19
01
2022
entrez:
17
2
2022
pubmed:
18
2
2022
medline:
20
4
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
In Germany, there are neither guidelines provided by the medical associations nor a public discussion about general practitioners (GPs) treating their family members. Only few studies on this topic from the primary care setting exist. The aim of this study is to describe GPs' treatment of family members and to generate empirical data on the most common reasons for this. In June 2018 we conducted a postal survey among GPs in the North Rhine region of Germany. The questionnaire was developed in a stepwise process including initial expert panels, interviews with GPs, item construction workshops, cognitive pre-tests and pilot testing with 40 questionnaires. The final questionnaire addressed: type and frequency of treatment, documentation and place of treatment, engagement as the official GP as well as reasons for and against the treatment. For data evaluation, descriptive and explorative statistical analyses were conducted. Overall, 393 questionnaires were returned (response rate 39.8%). 96.7% of the GPs had treated at least one family member during the last 12 months. Services that were provided frequently (more than three times in the last 12 months) included the prescription or dispensing of medication (partner 45%, children 37%, parents 43%, partner's parents 26%), physical examinations (partner 18%, children 24%, parents 25%, partner's parents 15%), and the arrangement or provision of laboratory tests (partner 14%, children 7%, parents 16%, partner's parents 9%). Less than one third of the study participants always treated their relatives in their office. Male GPs more often provided care to family members (except children) registered in their practice. Senior male GPs treated their relatives more often than junior female GPs. Family members were most commonly treated for practical reasons. The subject of GPs treating their relatives is of high everyday relevance, since nearly all GPs are involved in the treatment of their family members. Frequent at-home treatments and low documentation rates may indicate risks due to deviating from the professional routine.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
In Germany, there are neither guidelines provided by the medical associations nor a public discussion about general practitioners (GPs) treating their family members. Only few studies on this topic from the primary care setting exist. The aim of this study is to describe GPs' treatment of family members and to generate empirical data on the most common reasons for this.
METHODS
In June 2018 we conducted a postal survey among GPs in the North Rhine region of Germany. The questionnaire was developed in a stepwise process including initial expert panels, interviews with GPs, item construction workshops, cognitive pre-tests and pilot testing with 40 questionnaires. The final questionnaire addressed: type and frequency of treatment, documentation and place of treatment, engagement as the official GP as well as reasons for and against the treatment. For data evaluation, descriptive and explorative statistical analyses were conducted.
RESULTS
Overall, 393 questionnaires were returned (response rate 39.8%). 96.7% of the GPs had treated at least one family member during the last 12 months. Services that were provided frequently (more than three times in the last 12 months) included the prescription or dispensing of medication (partner 45%, children 37%, parents 43%, partner's parents 26%), physical examinations (partner 18%, children 24%, parents 25%, partner's parents 15%), and the arrangement or provision of laboratory tests (partner 14%, children 7%, parents 16%, partner's parents 9%). Less than one third of the study participants always treated their relatives in their office. Male GPs more often provided care to family members (except children) registered in their practice. Senior male GPs treated their relatives more often than junior female GPs. Family members were most commonly treated for practical reasons.
CONCLUSION
The subject of GPs treating their relatives is of high everyday relevance, since nearly all GPs are involved in the treatment of their family members. Frequent at-home treatments and low documentation rates may indicate risks due to deviating from the professional routine.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35172761
doi: 10.1186/s12875-022-01631-z
pii: 10.1186/s12875-022-01631-z
pmc: PMC8812028
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
23Informations de copyright
© 2022. The Author(s).
Références
N Engl J Med. 1991 Oct 31;325(18):1290-4
pubmed: 1922224
Fam Pract. 1990 Jun;7(2):96-9
pubmed: 2369989
Med Princ Pract. 2017;26(3):235-244
pubmed: 28114131
Arch Fam Med. 1994 Jul;3(7):599-604
pubmed: 7921295
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2005 Aug 25;125(16):2207-9
pubmed: 16138138
N Engl J Med. 2014 Sep 25;371(13):1254-8
pubmed: 25251620
Am J Dis Child. 1993 Feb;147(2):146-9
pubmed: 8427235
BMJ. 1999 Sep 4;319(7210):605-8
pubmed: 10473473
Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2018 Jan;143(2):e9-e17
pubmed: 28915518
J Med Ethics. 2012 May;38(5):294-8
pubmed: 22313661
J Clin Ethics. 2009 Winter;20(4):353-61
pubmed: 20120855
Pediatrics. 2009 Dec;124(6):1685-8
pubmed: 19948635
Ann Intern Med. 2012 Jan 3;156(1 Pt 2):73-104
pubmed: 22213573
Ann Fam Med. 2018 Jan;16(1):45-51
pubmed: 29311174
BMJ. 2007 Oct 20;335(7624):806-8
pubmed: 17947786
HEC Forum. 2012 Jun;24(2):127-37
pubmed: 22262264