Journal Article

General practitioners treating their own family members: a cross-sectional survey in Germany

Schmidt, Alexandra, Kalitzkus, Vera, Mortsiefer, Achim, Kersting, Christine, Mücke, Natalie Alida, Wilm, Stefan, Pentzek, Michael

2022

Overview

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.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Ambulatory care / Analysis / Cross-sectional studies / Families & family life / Family / Family Medicine / Family physicians / General Practice / Health surveys / Liability insurance / Medical societies / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Parents & parenting / Pharmacy / Physicians (General practice) / Primary Care Medicine / Questionnaires / Response rates / Rural areas / Services / Surveys / Urban areas / Variables