Table 1 Characteristics of GPs and practices (n = 158)

- male

60.8%

- female

39.2%

Age of GP: mean ± sd

50.2 ± 7.7 years

Years of practice: mean ± sd

15.0 ± 8.2 years

Specialty of GP

- no specialty

4.4%

- family medicine ("Facharzt für Allgemeinmedizin")

65.8%

- internal medicine ("Facharzt für Innere Medizin")

28.5%

- family medicine and internal medicine

1.3%

Practice type

- single pactice

52.5%

- practice-sharing

12.7%

- group practice

34.8%

Number of patients treated in practice in each quarter

- 1,000 and more patients

51.3%

- 750 thru 999 patients

24.7%

- 500 thru 749 patients

19.6%

- 499 and less patients

4.4%