title: [Patients of private practice physicians--selected results of a survey in general practice offices].
abstract: The structural changes in outpatient medical care in the new Federal Laender were characterised by the fact that doctors now established their own medical practice whereas previously they had been part of a state-controlled and state-organised system of medical centres for outpatient treatment. The aim of the present study consisted in analysing the opinions of patients on these changes in ambulatory medical care from state control to a physician in own medical practice. The standardised questionnaire used in this study contained questions on the conditions of organisation within the practice, e.g. waiting period, consultation period, home visit and accessibility of the doctor. Furthermore the patients were asked for important criteria of medical care by a family doctor. Selected results of this inquiry of patients are compared to a study realised in 1988/89 under conditions of the former public health system of the GDR. Comparison of both studies results in significant differences. In a practice of a consulting-room practitioner the waiting period is shorter, the accessibility of the doctor is better and the time of consultations is positively changed compared to the former public health system. In 1992 about 94% of patients considered the general practitioner in his own practice as their family doctor, in 1988/89 under the conditions of the public health system only 66% of patients did so. These differences are due to the higher degree of realisation of the criteria of medical care by a family doctor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Institut für Sozial- und Arbeitsmedizin, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dathe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000639:trends; D005194:Family Practice / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011057:Politics; D011331:Private Practice / Q000639:trends*
vernacular_title: Patienten beim Arzt in eigener Niederlassung--ausgewählte Ergebnisse einer Befragungsstudie in allgemeinmedizinischen Praxen.