title: [Diagnostic tests in GP out-of-hours services in the Netherlands].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine GPs' access to diagnostic tests (medical imaging, laboratory tests, and point-of-care tests) during GP out-of-hours care in the Netherlands and to assess whether access differs between services located adjacent to or separate from an Accident and Emergency (A&E) department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2014 we invited all GP out-of-hours services in the Netherlands to participate in a survey on GPs' access to diagnostic tests in Dutch GP out-of-hours services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  117 GP out-of-hours services participated in the survey; response rate 100%. Although access to diagnostic tests during GP out-of-hours care varied across services, overall there was limited access. Electrocardiography was available in 26% (30/117) of all services, and conventional radiography in 19% (22/117). Access to various types of laboratory tests ranged between 37% (43/117) and 65% (76/117). All services had glucose point-of-care tests and urine dipstick tests available. We observed no relevant differences in access to in-house diagnostic tests between services adjacent to or separate from an A&E department. More than half (56%) of out-of-hours services expressed plans to expand their diagnostic facilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GPs in the Netherlands have limited and varying access to diagnostic tests in GP out-of-hours services. GPs working in out-of-hours services adjacent to A&E departments do not have wider access to diagnostic tests than GPs working at a separate location. With current developments towards joint organisation structures of GP out-of-hours services and A&E departments in the Netherlands, the organisation of diagnostic facilities within out-of-hours care may be subject of debate.
authors.affiliation: Universiteit Maastricht, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), vakgroep Huisartsgeneeskunde, Maastricht.
authors.forename: Angel M R
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schols
authors.forename: Femke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Camiel  G I P
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeijen
authors.forename: Geert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Dinant
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Vugt
authors.forename: Jochen W L
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Cals
mesh_terms: D039602:After-Hours Care; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires