RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Changes in patients' attitudes towards the management of minor ailments
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 516
OP 521
VO 55
IS 516
A1 Cardol, Mieke
A1 Schellevis, François G
A1 Spreeuwenberg, Peter
A1 van de Lisdonk, Eloy H
YR 2005
UL http://bjgp.org/content/55/516/516.abstract
AB Background Patients' attitudes towards the management of minor ailments influence help-seeking behaviour. Up-to-date information about patients' attitudes is valuable for understanding changes in help-seeking behaviour.Aim To describe changes in patients' attitudes between 1987 and 2001, and to explain the relationship between patients' attitudes and attributes of practices, practitioners and patients.Design Two cross-sectional, Dutch National Surveys of General Practice (1987 and 2001; n = 9579 and n = 8405 patients, respectively).Setting General practice in the Netherlands.Method Patients' attitudes were evaluated in health interviews. Data were analysed using multilevel regression analysis.Results In 2001, patients' attitudes showed a shift away from consulting their GP for minor ailments. Attitudes are uniform across different types of practice, and mainly differ between patients. In 1987 as well as in 2001 the factors associated with firm beliefs about the benefits of GP's care in case of minor ailments were male, older age, lower educational level, a non-Western cultural background, and a visit to the GP in the past 2 months. Furthermore, the association between health status and beliefs about GPs dealing with minor ailments is more marked in 2001. Compared to 1987, the influences of GPs and the practice are more intertwined in 2001.Conclusions Patients' attitudes towards the management of minor ailments have changed over the years, which implies that strategic action by the profession and the government has affected the way the public uses primary care. However, a marginal group of patients (elderly, less-educated, non-Western) is lagging behind this trend, and continuing to consult GPs for minor ailments.