General practitioner attitudes to case conferences: how can we increase participation and effectiveness?
OBJECTIVE
To identify general practitioners' views on the barriers to using case conferencing (as outlined in the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Enhanced Primary Care package) and to develop a set of principles to encourage greater GP participation in case conferences.


METHODS
Qualitative study, involving semistructured questions administered to focus groups of GPs, conducted between April and July 2001 as part of a broader study of case coordination in palliative care.


METHODS
29 GPs from urban, regional, and rural areas of Queensland.


RESULTS
Many of the GPs' work practices militated against participation in traditionally structured case conferences. GPs thought the range of MBS item numbers should be expanded to cover alternative methods of liaison (eg, phone consultations with other service providers). The onerous bureaucratic processes required to claim reimbursement were an additional disincentive.


CONCLUSIONS
GPs would probably be more likely to participate in case conferences if they were initiated by specialist services and arranged more flexibly to suit GP work schedules.
Mitchell
Geoffrey K
GK
School of Population Health, University of Queensland Medical School, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia. g.mitchell@sph.uq.edu.au
De Jong
Inge C
IC
Del Mar
Christopher B
CB
Clavarino
Alexandra M
AM
Kennedy
Rosemary
R
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019090:Case Management; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011793:Queensland; D013685:Telecommunications