The care in general practice has become more multi-practitioner and multi-disciplinary organized [ 3].
Six hundred and sixty-eight (60%) GPs were male (excludes 78 GPs where gender was not confirmed), and 245 (96%) practices were multi-practitioner surgeries.
These 340 GPs had been qualified for a mean (SD) of 19.9 (8.1) years, 22% were GP trainers, 97% were from multi-practitioner surgeries and 56% were male.
Practitioners in multi-practitioner offices were asked to sign a Site Authorization Letter indicating their collective willingness for the study to take place at their site.
GPs responding to this first mailing had been qualified for a mean (SD) of 19.9 (8.0) years, 21% were GP trainers, 97% were from multi-practitioner surgeries and 56% were male.
The final sample of 340 GPs did not differ significantly from the original sampling frame of 1225 GPs on gender (chi-square = 2.916, df = 1, p = 0.09, excludes 78 where gender was not confirmed for non-respondents) or multi-practitioner practice status (chi-square = 0.001, df = 1, p = 0.971).
We can use this model to help us develop a whole-system understanding of what is needed to support the practice of generalist expertise in the care of people with multi-morbidity: assessing patient, practitioner and system-level factors which enhance or limit capacity.
Strategic thinking enables the practitioner to consider the big picture (single patient, multi-patient and/or multi-unit), recognise patterns and trends, set priorities and consider alternatives.
As this study shows that patients prefer personal trainers and dieticians above medical practitioners (GPs, surgeons, physicians) as managers of weight, there is obvious benefit in establishing a multi – disciplinary approach for weight management which may involve partners and family, allied health and medical practitioners.
A survey of Western Australia's general practitioners' (GPs') knowledge and practices relating to genital chlamydia infection was conducted in mid-2005, prior to a multi-media campaign which encouraged 15 24 year olds to seek chlamydia testing through their general practitioner (GP).
In a pragmatic prospective multi centre two-armed randomized controlled trial in the Netherlands the availability and involvement for the general practitioners of a nurse specialist will be compared with usual care.
