Abstract
BackgroundThere are numerous definitions of general practice/family medicine (GP/FM) and primary health care (PHC), but the distinction between the two concepts is unclear.AimTo conduct a terminological analysis of a set of definitions of GP/FM and of PHC, to clarify the commonalities and differences between these two concepts.DesignSets of 20 definitions were collected in two 'bags of words' (one for GP/FM and one for PHC terms). A terminological analysis of these two collections was performed to prioritise the terms and analyse their universe of discourse.MethodThe two collections were extracted with VocabGrabber, configured in two 'term clouds' using Wordle, and further explored for similarities using Tropes. The main terms were analysed using the Aristotelian approach to the categorisation of things.ResultsAlthough continuity of care (characterised by a person-centred approach and shared decision making) is common to both sets, the two sets of definitions differ greatly in content. The main terms specific to GP/FM (community, medicine, responsibility, individual, problem, and needs) are different from those specific to PHC (home, team, promotion, collaborator, engagement, neighbourhood, and medical centre).ConclusionTerminological analysis of the definitions for GP/FM and PHC shows two overlapping but distinct entities, necessitating a different taxonomic approach and different bibliographic search strategies.
Highlights
General practice designates a branch of medicine characterised by its broad scope
The main terms obtained from an analysis of 10 definitions
by practitioners who are responsible physicians shaped by science
Summary
General practice designates a branch of medicine characterised by its broad scope. Medicine emphasises the relationship with the patient and seeing the person as a whole, in the context of their family ( of kin or relevant others) and their wider community. The WONCA dictionary states: ‘Many medical practitioners in the primary health care prefer the terms family physician and family medicine in order to emphasise the recognition of their branch of medical practice as a specialty in its own right.’[2] In other countries, other terms are used such as general practitioner (UK), ’hausart’ (Germany), ’huisarts’ (Netherlands), ’medecin generaliste’ and ’medecin de famille’ (France), and family physician (US). GP/FM is a people-oriented profession aiming at the management of an extended and general set of human health problems.[3] Core values of GP/FM have been extensively discussed. Patientcentredness, as well as the biopsychosocial model, are definitely considered as undisputable attributes of a profession directed towards building personal relationships during the patient’s lifetime.[4]
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