Who provides GP after-hours care?

Abstract

Understanding the demographic and financial factors likely to influence the supply side of after-hours GP care is crucial in meeting the increasing demand for these services. This study answers two questions: which GPs are more likely to provide after-hours GP care, and of those who do, which are more likely to take a heavier load. Data from the first wave of the Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL) survey is used, with logistic regression applied to address the decision to undertake after-hours work and linear regression to address the question of the quantum of work. The results show that female, older, and urban GPs are less likely to work outside of normal hours. GPs who are employees are less likely to participate in after-hours work than GPs who are principals or partners of a practice. On the other hand, principals and partners, are likely work more hours in the after-hours period than employee GPs if they do participate in this work. Similarly, those GPs in solo practice who work after-hours also tend to take a heavier after-hours workload than the GPs who are not in solo practice. The role of GP wages and family income does not seem to be compelling. These conclusions are likely to relate to the ways doctors behave independent of the health system.

Keywords: After-hours; GP; Health services.