title: Response of general practitioners to infectious disease public health crises: an integrative systematic review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous research has identified gaps in pandemic response planning for primary care. Identifying the challenges that general practitioners (GPs) face during public health crises of infectious diseases will help to improve prepandemic planning. In this integrative systematic review, we identified research-based evidence to (1) challenges that GPs have when participating in pandemics or epidemics and (2) whether GPs from different countries encountered different challenges.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses databases during October to November 2012 to identify studies relevant to experience by GPs during epidemics or pandemics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six quantitative, 2 mixed method, and 2 qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria. The challenges identified were not exclusive to specific countries and encompassed different responses to outbreaks. These challenges included difficulties with information access; supply and use of personal protective equipment; performing public health responsibilities; obtaining support from the authorities; appropriate training; and the emotional effects of participating in the response to an infectious disease with unknown characteristics and lethality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GPs' response to public health crises in different countries presents potential for improving pandemic preparedness.
authors.affiliation: School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kunin
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Engelhard
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piterman
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000379:methods*; D058005:General Practitioners; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011634:Public Health