Time constraints during patient visits play a major role for the work stress of primary care physicians. Several studies suggest that there is a critical situation in terms of time constraints in primary care in Germany. Therefore, the following research questions are addressed: (1) What is the time allocated and needed for different types of consultations among primary care physicians in an urban area in Germany? (2) What is the extent of time stress? (3) Are there differences in time stress according to physician characteristics (gender and length of experience) and practice type (single vs. group/shared practice)? Data stem from a face-to-face survey of primary care doctors in Hamburg and adjacent regions. A sample of 128 physicians stratified by a combination of physicians’ gender and length of experience (≤15 years or > 15 years) was used. Physicians were asked about the time needed (in minutes) to provide high quality of care for patients regarding six types of consultations: (1) new patient appointment, (2) routine consultation, (3) complete physical examination, (4) symptom-oriented examination, (5) check-up, and (6) home visit (without drive). Afterwards, they were asked about the average minutes allocated for the six consultations. Time stress was measured by calculating minutes needed minus minutes available. Average perceived time needed was higher than time allocated for all six types of consultation. However, there were differences in the magnitude of time stress between the consultation types. Time stress was most pronounced and most prevalent in case of a new patient visit. No significant differences in time stress between male and female primary care physicians were found, while less experienced physicians reported more time stress than those with more experience (> 15 years). Physicians working in a single practice had less time stress than those working in a group or shared practice in case of a check-up visit. Perceived time needed is higher than time allocated for various types of consultation among primary care physicians in Germany. Time stress in primary care is particularly pronounced in case of new patient appointments. Early-career physicians are particularly affected by time stress.

中文翻译：

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德国初级保健医生对时间限制的认识

患者就诊期间的时间限制对于基层医疗医生的工作压力起着重要作用。多项研究表明，德国在初级保健方面存在时间紧迫的严峻形势。因此，解决了以下研究问题：（1）在德国城市地区，初级保健医生之间进行不同类型的咨询需要分配多少时间？（2）时间压力的程度是多少？（3）根据医生的特征（性别和经验的长短）和执业类型（单人vs.小组/共同执业）的时间压力是否存在差异？数据来自汉堡和邻近地区的初级保健医生的面对面调查。使用了128位医生的样本，这些样本按医生的性别和经验长度（≤15年或> 15年）进行了分层。医师被问及在以下六种类型的咨询中为患者提供高质量护理所需的时间（以分钟为单位）：( 1）新患者预约，（2）常规咨询，（3）全面体检，（4）症状-定向考试，（5）体检和（6）上门拜访（无开车）。之后，他们被询问分配给六次咨询的平均时间。通过计算所需的分钟数减去可用的分钟数来测量时间压力。平均所需的感知时间高于为所有六种类型的咨询分配的时间。但是，咨询类型之间的时间压力大小存在差异。在新患者就诊时，时间压力最明显，也最普遍。男性和女性初级保健医生之间在时间压力上没有显着差异，而经验较少的医生报告的时间压力比经验丰富（> 15年）的医生更多。与进行集体检查或集体检查的医生相比，在单一诊所工作的医生的时间压力较小。在德国，所需的感知时间要比分配给各种类型的咨询服务的时间更长。在新任命患者的情况下，初级保健中的时间压力尤其明显。早期医生特别受时间压力的影响。与进行集体检查或集体检查的医生相比，在单一诊所工作的医生的时间压力较小。在德国，所需的感知时间要比分配给各种类型的咨询服务的时间更长。在新任命患者的情况下，初级保健中的时间压力尤其明显。早期医生特别受时间压力的影响。与进行集体检查或集体检查的医生相比，在单一诊所工作的医生的时间压力较小。在德国，所需的感知时间要高于分配给各种类型的咨询服务的时间。在新任命患者的情况下，初级保健中的时间压力尤其明显。早期医生特别受时间压力的影响。