title: [Deficiencies and barriers of the cooperation between German general practitioners and occupational health physicians? A qualitative content analysis of focus groups].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given the high prevalence of work-associated health problems and the significance of work-related stress factors, cooperation between general practitioners (GPs) and occupational health physicians (OPs) is of particular interest to the healthcare system. Both groups of physicians have an important role to play in supporting prevention, rehabilitation and workplace reintegration. In Germany, however, cooperation between GPs and OPs is often lacking or suboptimal. In our study, we assessed relevant deficiencies in and barriers to this cooperation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three focus groups were interviewed: GPs, OPs, and medical doctors working in both fields. Data were analysed according to the qualitative content analysis method of P. Mayring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Deficiencies such as lack of communication (e.g., opportunity to make phone calls), insufficient cooperation in regard to sick-leave and professional reintegration, lack of knowledge about the specialty and influence of OPs as well as about patients' working conditions in general. Barriers: Prejudices, competition, mistrust, fear of negative consequences for the patients, lack of legal regulations, or limited accessibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar deficiencies and barriers were mentioned in all three focus groups. The data are helpful in understanding the interface between GPs and OPs in Germany to provide an informative basis for the development of quantitative research instruments for further analysis to improve cooperation. This is the basis for additional cooperation projects.
authors.affiliation: Lehrbereich Allgemeinmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen. dirk.mosshammer@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moßhammer
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Natanzon
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manske
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grutschkowski
authors.forename: Monika A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rieger
mesh_terms: D003144:Communication Barriers; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017144:Focus Groups; D058006:General Practice; D005858:Germany; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational