[General practitioners' evaluation of the out-of-hours service in Copenhagen County].
BACKGROUND
This investigation was part of a large project concerning quality development in the primary care out-of-hours service in Copenhagen County, Denmark.


METHODS
In August 2003 a questionnaire was sent out to all the general practitioners in Copenhagen County (n = 365, return rate: 82%). 56% of the GPs were not working in the out-of-hours service.


RESULTS
In total, 95% of those surveyed felt that the out-of-hours service is doing a good job; 95% expressed satisfaction with the professional level; and only 3% found that they did not have good cooperation with the service. 63% did not agree with the statement that the out-of-hours service is used only in acute cases of disease or acute deterioration of disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the GPs expressed a high level of satisfaction with the out-of-hours service. They also felt that their patients were satisfied. However, the study pointed out the difference in perception between patients and doctors regarding the aim of the service.
Christensen
Morten Bondo
MB
Aarhus Universitet, Institut og Forskningsenhed for Almen Medicin, Arhus C. mbc@alm.au.dk
Skafte-Holm
Phillip
P
Weinicke
Hans Henrik
HH
Greibe
John
J
Rem
Jørgen
J
Sauer
Mikael
M
Andersen
Dan Helmer
DH
Gliese
Mogens S
MS
D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000592:standards*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003718:Denmark; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires