Evaluation of standards of practice for general practitioners using eight hypothetical cases

Concerns about the quality of primary care in New Zealand have increased over recent years as the scarcity of research in this field has become more apparent. A survey was undertaken among 132 general practitioners in Otago and Southland to gauge the degree of consensus of care for eight hypothetical cases. An 87.3% response rate was obtained. The year of graduation of the respondents was a significant factor in determining the response to the choice of management options for the paediatric sore throat and the benign hypertension cases. A variation in treatment of a 65 year old with epigastric pain was seen between rural and urban practitioners, with the cluster containing the most rural practitioners being least likely to undertake detailed diagnostic procedures.