Optimizing cooperation between general practitioners, occupational health and rehabilitation physicians in Germany: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To achieve successful medical rehabilitation and timely return to work, general practitioners, occupational health and rehabilitation physicians need to cooperate effectively. This cooperation, however, can be hampered by organizational, interpersonal, and structural barriers. In this article, we present and discuss suggestions proposed by physicians and patients on how these barriers can be overcome.

Methods

We conducted eight qualitative focus group discussions with general practitioners (GPs), occupational health physicians (OPs), rehabilitation physicians (RPs) and rehabilitation patients, which we analyzed with qualitative content analysis methods.

Results

Room for improvement exists with regard to (1) regulation (e.g. formalized role and obligatory input

SUBMITTER: Stratil J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5640724 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature