Abstract:

This paper sets out to explore the task elements and related time spending of a General Practitioners (GPs) working day and attempts to measure how, if at all, these are changing from year to year. The results are analysed with particular reference to the effect on GPs' behaviour regarding promotion and market research. The paper is primarily based on the results of three medium scale quantified surveys conducted in 1975-1977 and 1978 by Medical Surveys Ltd. The interpretative comments in the paper are based on the results of the surveys and other work conducted by the research company, of both a quantitative and qualitative nature.