[The Frequency of Ethical Conflicts in Primary Care and the Need for Ethical Consultations - The Perspective of General Practitioners].

Background:  Our knowledge about ethical conflicts in primary care is limited. The aim of this study was to ascertain the frequency of ethical conflicts and the need of professional consultation services - seen from the perspective of general practitioners (GPs).

Methods:  A random sample of GPs from Lower Saxony, a federal state of Germany, received a standardized questionnaire about their experiences with ethical conflicts and their need for an ethical consultation.

Ethical challenges in primary care: a focus group study with general practitioners, nurses and informal caregivers.

Background: General practitioners (GPs), nurses and informal caregivers are often jointly involved in healthcare situations in which ethical issues play an important role.

Objectives: To describe ethical problems from the perspective of these three groups and to investigate whether there is a common experience of ethical issues in primary care.

Methods: We conducted six focus groups with general practitioners, nurses and informal caregivers in Germany.