[Physicians at the Interface to the Non-Medical Sector of Home- and Community-Based Services for People with...

The study examined the function of physicians between the medical and nonmedical sector of home- and community-based services in the ambulatory care of people with dementia and their relatives. Therefore, the study took a differentiated look at the status quo of physicians' activities regarding non-medical home- and community-based services as well as approaches for optimizing the current situation from the physicians' perspective.

An explorative cross-sectional study was conducted using a standardized postal survey (based on a qualitative preliminary study with 6 physicians). Data from 177 GPs and specialists in Hamburg could be collected and analyzed with descriptive statistics.

The majority of physicians (88.1%) inform their patients with dementia and their carers about home- and community-based services. 'Home care' presents the most often and 'services for carers' the least considered aspect. Approaches that address the optimization of information material are assessed as most supportive.

The results can be used as a basis for further development of the care landscape in Hamburg. What has to be discussed is the monoperspective data collection only from physician's point of view. The utilization of the results requires an inclusion of the perspective of affected persons themselves as well as other actors in the non-medical care landscape.