[The Situation of Employed Doctors in Outpatient Care in Germany: Results of an Empirical Study]. / Zur Situation der angestellten Ärztinnen und Ärzte im ambulanten Sektor in Deutschland: Ergebnisse einer empirischen Studie.

AIM: At present, there are only a few reliable findings on the ever-increasing number of doctors employed in outpatient care. Therefore, some results of a nationwide quantitative survey of persons in this occupational group will be presented and discussed here. METHOD: The study is a standardized quantitative survey of physicians employed in the outpatient sector. The target population is represented by a disproportionately stratified sample from the databases of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of the federal states. A total of 10,580 doctors were contacted and the response rate was 21.8%. The sample design not only allows descriptive analyses for small subpopulations to be carried out but also regional disparities to be taken into account. RESULTS: It can be shown that mainly young female doctors take up employment in the outpatient sector. 59% of doctors work part-time, the average weekly working time is 28.9 h. A medical office employs about 4 doctors and on average (median) about 30 people are treated per day. CONCLUSION: An important reason for the steady growth of this occupational group may be the flexibility of working hours and the possibility of part-time work, which in turn has a positive effect on the compatibility of family and career. Finally, yet importantly, this could be the reason why this occupational group seems to consist predominantly of young female doctors. Often, however, this kind of employment also represents a transitional model towards a private practice or - for former practice owners - into retirement. In general, however, being employed in outpatient care seems to be the desired "normal working model" for many doctors.

The career expectations of medical students: findings of a nationwide survey in Germany.

BACKGROUND: Demographic change, technical progress, and changing patterns of service use influence the future demand for physicians in the German health care system. The attitudes of medical students towards their later work in the health system is important for current health care planning. For that reason a nationwide survey aimed to identify major trends in preferred specialty, workplace characteristics (regional location, hospital) and perceived hindrances for clinical work. METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 34 closed questions was developed at the University of Mainz in 2009 and administered over the Internet in June and July 2010 to all medical students in Germany. The questions addressed the students' intentions regarding specialty training, location of practice, workload, and regional preference, as well as potential reasons why they might choose not to practice clinical medicine in the future. RESULTS: 12 518 web-based questionnaires were filled in (approx. 15.7% of all medical students in Germany in 2010). The mean age was 24.9 years, with 64% female and 36% male. Favored specialties were internal medicine (42.6%), family medicine (29.6%), pediatrics (27.0%) and surgery (26.8%). Nearly all respondents (96%) stated that they attached importance to compatibility of work and family life. Working in a salaried position (92.2%) was preferred to working in private practice (77.7%). General practice, in particular in rural locations, was significantly less favored than work as a specialist in cities. CONCLUSION: Although the coming generation of physicians anticipate working in clincial settings in the future, shortfalls in the areas of primary care and in rural locations are likely if medical students adhere to their preferences stated in the questionnaire.