Norwegian regular general practitioners' experiences with out-of-hours emergency situations and procedures

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• General Practice
• Healthcare Services Research

Background:

• The Norwegian regular general practitioner (RGP) scheme involves out-of-hours emergency duties.
• Understanding RGP involvement and experience in emergency care is crucial for service planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the participation of Norwegian RGPs in the out-of-hours system in 2006.
• To identify emergency situations and procedures encountered by RGPs.
• To evaluate RGPs' self-confidence in performing emergency procedures.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was distributed to 3804 RGPs in Norway in May 2006.
• Participants reported on 14 pre-selected emergency situations and procedures experienced in the past 12 months.
• Self-confidence levels for specific emergency procedures were also assessed.

Main Results:

• 63% of surveyed RGPs participated in out-of-hours services, with 95% reporting on emergency situations.
• Common emergency situations included chest pain (94%), psychiatric problems (92%), and asthma (88%).
• Experience with emergency procedures like IV medication and oxygen masks was infrequent (median 3 instances), though self-confidence was high. Male doctors and those in rural areas reported more experiences.

Conclusions:

• Two-thirds of Norwegian RGPs were involved in out-of-hours services, managing diverse emergency cases.
• Despite high confidence, actual experience with most emergency procedures was low over a 12-month period.
• Regular training is essential for RGPs to maintain proficiency in emergency procedures.