Characteristics Associated with Person-Centered Care Attitudes Among European General Practitioners: Findings from the PACE GP/FP Study
Goranka Petricek, Heather Lynn Rogers, Zoi Tsimtsiou, Zalika Klemenc-Ketiš, Davorina Petek, Sara Willems, Torunn Bjerve Eide, Sara Ares Blanco, Thomas Frese, Kathryn Hoffmann, Erika Zelko, Péter Torzsa, Bohumil Seifert, Adam Windak, Katarzyna Nessler, Rosa Megallón-Botaya, Jesús González-Lama, Radost Assenova, Mehmet Ungan, Heidrun Lingner, Esther Van Poel, Katarina Stavrikj, Claire Collins, Sabine Bayen, Joana Azeredo, Sanda Kreitmayer, Milena Kostić, Iliana-Carmen Busneag, Tuomas Koskela, Alice Serafini, Joanne Butterworth, Dorien Louise Maria Zwart, Gorka Vuletić, Ksenija Tušek Bunc, Didem Kafadar, Canan Tuz, Martin Seifert, Mina Dahli, Bruno Heleno, Krzysztof Studzinski, Ádám Becze, Christine Brütting, Davide Fornacciari, Aileen Barrett, Jasone Basterretxea Oyarzabal, Kiril Soleski, Fátima Méndez-López, David Lerma Irureta, Vildan Mevsim, Oğulcan Çöme, Marta Tundzeva, Abeer Ahmad, Jelena Rakić Matić, Marion Tomičić, Marko Rađa, Ino Kermc, Miroslav Hanzevački, Pero Hrabač
Keywords: Patient-centered care; General practice; Physician attitudes; PACE GP/FP study
Background:
Person-centered care (PCC) emphasizes patients’ preferences, values, and experiences and is a core value of general practice. However, its adoption in practice remains variable and challenging for many general practitioners (GPs).
Research questions:
Which characteristics of European GPs are associated with self-reported person-centered attitudes?
Method:
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among GPs in 24 European countries, with invitations sent via national medical associations. The survey collected GP and practice characteristics, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Patient-Physician Orientation Scale (PPOS), and facilitators and barriers to PCC. The study was coordinated by the Department of Family Medicine, University of Zagreb, in collaboration with EQuiP and EGPRN, and approved by the Zagreb Medical School Ethics Committee. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistica 7.1.
Results:
A total of 3,813 GPs participated (mean age 46.8 ± 11.8 years; 67.2% female; 74% specialist-trained), with an average of 15.8 years of experience. Over half were involved in teaching. Most worked in urban practices (45.6%) and in practices with >2 GPs (53.7%). About one-third reported a higher-than-average proportion of patients with chronic conditions (39.3%) or aged >70 years (36.2%). PPOS scores indicated moderate patient-centered attitudes (Total 4.21 ± 0.68; Caring 4.40 ± 1.04; Sharing 3.74 ± 0.98). Higher PCC scores were observed among older, specialist-trained, experienced, and teaching-involved GPs, whereas younger GPs (<30 years) scored lower (p < 0.001). Fewer daily patient contacts, GPs in practices with >2 GPs, or serving rural-urban populations were associated with higher PCC (p < 0.01). Higher work stress was linked to lower total and subscale PPOS scores (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
European GPs reported moderately favorable patient-centered attitudes, with higher PCC among older, specialist-trained, experienced, and teaching-involved practitioners with lower work stress. GPs with fewer patient contacts, in multi-GP practices, and serving rural-urban populations also reported higher PCC. Further research is needed to clarify associations.
Points for discussion:
#204