The workload of GPs: consultations of patients with psychological and somatic problems compared

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. To investigate whether GPs' workload in consultations is related to psychological or social prob...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of general practice 2005-08, Vol.55 (517), p.609-614
Main Authors: Zantinge, Else M, Verhaak, Peter F M, Kerssens, Jan J, Bensing, Jozien M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Family Practice - statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders - epidemiology
Mental Disorders - therapy
Middle Aged
Netherlands - epidemiology
Original Papers
Sex Distribution
Surveys and Questionnaires
Time Factors
Workload - statistics & numerical data
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Summary: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. To investigate whether GPs' workload in consultations is related to psychological or social problems of patients. A cross-sectional national survey in general practice, conducted in the Netherlands from 2000-2002. One hundred and four general practices in the Netherlands. 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. 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. 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.
ISSN:0960-1643