Primary care in Switzerland: evolution of physicians’ profile and activities in twenty years (1993–2012)

Background: According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Swiss healthcare system is one of the most effective in the world. Yet, as other occidental countries, it has to face the increase of chronic diseases frequency and its resulting cost, particularly for primary care (PC). However very few consistent data are available to describe PC features and its evolution over time. The aim of this study is to describe the evolution of the Swiss PC physicians’ (PCPs) profile and activities between 1993 and 2012. Methods: The date come from two independent European surveys carried out in Switzerland respectively in 1993 and 2012. Both surveys were cross-sectional ones and based on representative samples of 200 PCPs, interviewed by questionnaire. Results: In 20 years, PCPs became older (median age 46 vs 56, p 
Source: BMC Family Practice - Category: Primary Care Authors: Source Type: research