title: [Check up 35: what benefits do general practitioners in Brandenburg see?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The so-called "Check up 35" is a structured preventive examination to be conducted by primary care providers. Recent interviews have shown that expectations with regard to this examination vary among physicians; some of them expressed doubt that the consultation is useful at all. The aim of this study was to representatively examine Brandenburg's family physicians' attitudes towards this "Check up".
  
  
  METHODS
  50% of the family physicians listed in the data base of the Association of SHI Physicians were randomly selected to receive a mail questionnaire (n=748). Participation in the study was voluntary, the questionnaires were evaluated anonymously. The physicians were asked about both content and assumed benefit of consultations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire was answered by 37% of the physicians (n=274). In 2008, 40 "Check ups" were conducted every three months. 96% of the physicians amended the standard programme with additional preventive examinations - most frequently serum creatinine measurements. In most of the respectively rated categories, they appreciate the usefulness of the examination. In contrast, they take a rather sceptical attitude towards the en bloc standard programme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study shows that many family physicians are very critical of the "Check up 35"; in particular, this applies to the range of scheduled examinations. There are considerable variations in the individual shaping of the consultation process among the physicians. They use the "Check up" as a tool for individual prevention instead of limiting it to the reduced standardised screening as intended.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Regus
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sonntag
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bockelbrink
authors.forename: Justus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Welke
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heintze
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009313:National Health Programs; D010808:Physical Examination; D011314:Preventive Health Services