The content of general practice in Malta : a pilot study comparing health centre and private practice in Malta with each other and with general practice (as reported for other countries)

The effective planning of a system and the training of personnel to run it requires accurate data regarding the use to be made of the system. For a health care system such data, apart from actual numbers of patients, will include age/sex distribution, patient requests and expectations, and common presenting symptoms and diagnoses. Studies have been conducted in various countries to collect such data and while they have demonstrated general similarities among countries, they have also shown important regional differences. The present study arose as a result of discussions during a course on Family Medicine held by the University of Malta attended by ten doctors working in Government Health Centres, as it was noted that no such information has been published for Malta. The main objectives of the study were to determine the content of general practice in Malta; compare general practice experience in Government Health Centres and in private practice; determine and compare referral rates in Government Health Centres and in private practice.peer-reviewe