After hours care: a qualitative study of GPs' perceptions of risk of violence and effect on service provision

BACKGROUND Workplace violence in general practice has been found to be an important problem in the United Kingdom. No research has been undertaken in this area in Australian urban practice. METHOD Four focus groups involved 18 urban general practitioners and over 9 hours of taped responses were transcribed. The transcripts were coded and subjected to thematic analysis. RESULTS General practitioners expressed a wide range of risks relating to the provision of after hours care. This makes them apprehensive about participating in it. Those who had experienced violence, or perceived its risk, had limited their participation in after hours care; sometimes completely. DISCUSSION Structures may be needed to support provision of after hours general practice services.