Das Gesundheitswesen
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Jan 2012
[Factors influencing the decision to establish a primary care practice: results from a postal survey of young physicians in Germany].
Although the estimated need for primary health care is covered to 108% in Germany, a primary care physician shortage is emerging in some regions. Moreover, the number of young physicians completing a specialist medical training for general medicine is decreasing. Therefore the present study aimed to investigate factors influencing young physicians to aspire to such a specialist training as well as aspects considered as important for practice establishment by these physicians. ⋯ The results point to measures which could be suited for rendering the decision-making in favour of the establishment of a primary care practice by young physicians in rural areas more attractive again.
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Jan 2012
[Patients as customers? The term "customer" in the perception of medical students at the end of their university training].
In the preceding decades a new perspective on the role of patients in the health-care system has gained ground, considering patients not merely as "suffering persons" but additionally as "customers". Physicians, however, tend to disagree with this approach because of the economic connotation of the term customer. Until now, there is only poor evidence of whether students of medicine - who are going to work as physicians in the future - agree or disagree with that approach and whether they are ready to accept patients as customers. ⋯ Considering recent developments in the organisation of medical services and health services in general, it becomes increasingly important to know what kind of 'service behaviour' patients expect from their doctors and other health providers. Obviously, it is not self-evident for medical students to perceive their future patients as customers and to act as customer-oriented 'service providers'. In view of this, the faculties of medicine at universities - which provide professional training to students of medicine - should be aware of the challenge to 'socialise' their students so that they can keep up with patients' expectations.