Illness behaviour and influencing aspects of general practitioners in Germany and their use of the health care system: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore aspects that play a role when general practitioners (GPs) become ill and thus gain a more comprehensive understanding of the overall illness behaviour of GPs and their use of the healthcare system.

Setting

Primary care practices in Thuringia, Germany.

Participants

Convenience sample of 16 GPs.

Design

Qualitative study design with semistructured interviews and content analysis.

Results

Using our approach of having participants report their own episodes of illness, we found that self-treatment was practised and accepted by all 16 participants. The widespread use of naturopathy and complementary methods seems to be a special feature of German GPs. Formal use of the healthcare system mainly took place through d

SUBMITTER: Schulz S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9528620 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature