Was wollen Sie lesen? – DEGAM-Mitgliederbefragung zum Relaunch der ZFA

Abstract

BackgroundAfter the change of the publisher of the Journal of General Practice (Zeitschrift für Allgemeinmedizin, ZFA), there is an opportunity to further develop the journal according to the wishes of the readers.ObjectivesAn online survey was conducted to identify the needs and wishes of the readers in order to guide the further development of the journal in terms of content and concept.Materials and methodsA self-developed questionnaire was used to survey reading behavior and the importance of individual sections for readers. Open-ended questions were asked to identify aspects of the magazine that readers like and to make suggestions for improvement. In addition, interest in digital offerings as well as information on occupation and sociodemographic data were collected.ResultsThe readership of the ZFA is diverse, with GPs practicing in practice predominating. Many readers read only part of the journal, although almost all sections are considered important. Guideline articles and study reviews are perceived as particularly important. Practical relevance and evidence basing are valued. Desired improvements include more practical relevance and an updated layout. In terms of digital development, podcasts and e‑mail reminders meet with the greatest interest. Just under half of respondents would forgo a print version for an improved online edition.ConclusionsFormats for preparing scientific findings for practical use should be continued and expanded. The practical relevance could be further improved by new sections (best practice examples, case reports) as well as by more practical relevance in original papers. With an improved online offering, more sustainability could be achieved in the future by reducing the number of print issues.