[Expectations from a system of personal general practitioners. A questionnaire study among general practitioners in...

Four municipalities in Norway have tested out a system of personal general practitioners, where all inhabitants aged 12 or more could choose their personal doctor. The doctor's responsibility, work-load and economy were determined by his/her specified list of patients. Doctors employed in primary health care showed a significant interest in the subject, and the ongoing personal doctor trial. To prepare for possible reorganization to this new system in the municipality of Bergen, a survey was carried out in January 1995 among all 145 general practitioners in Bergen, of whom 70% responded. Data from the survey indicated that a larger share of women than men had low expectations concerning a system of personal general practitioners. Only 19 out of 101 general practitioners were positive to introducing such a system.