Factors predicting differences among general practitioners in test ordering behaviour and in the response to feedback on test requests.

BACKGROUND

In a population of 85 general practitioners diagnostic test ordering behaviour has been changed by means of repeated individual feedback provided since 1985.

OBJECTIVES

We studied practitioner and practice characteristics which may explain differences in test ordering behaviour and in the extent to which general practitioners tend to change their behaviour according to the feedback.

METHOD

In order to trace such variables, 75 general practitioners were interviewed. In our study request data from individual general practitioners were related to data from several questionnaires.

RESULTS

We found no practice characteristics which were of influence on the number of test requests by the general practitioner. Explanatory practitioner characteristics for this were found to be years of experience and working hours per week in practice.

CONCLUSIONS

More years of experience as a general practitioner and a shorter duration of consultations correlated with a better response to advice given in the feedback.