[Prevention in general practice--results of a study of ambulatory health care in the Waadt and Freiburg cantons].

Data on medical consultations were collected from a representative sample of self-employed physicians showing that prevention activities comprised only a small proportion of ambulatory medical care. Preventive acts are more frequent among pediatricians and gynecologists, however. The current health system favours therapeutic aspects of medicine over preventive aspects: Lack of adequate training of physicians and modes of payment for medical acts tend to discourage prevention by doctors.