Regional differences in reasons for consultation and general practitioners' spectrum of services in northern Germany - results of a cross-sectional observational study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Among other factors, the patients' consultation reasons and GPs' spectrum of services determine the process and outcome of the medical treatment. So far, however, there has been little information on differences in reasons for consultation and GPs' services between urban and rural areas. Our study's goal was thus to investigate these factors in relation to the regional location of GPs' practices.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional observational study based on standardised GP interviews in a quota sampling design. All counties and independent cities within a radius of 120 km around Hamburg were divided into three regional categories (urban area, environs, rural area) and stratified proportionally to the population size. Differences in the number of reasons for

SUBMITTER: Schafer I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6995090 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature