Is the role as gatekeeper still feasible? A survey among Dutch general practitioners.

Introduction: In the 2012 International Health Policy Survey by the Commonwealth Fund, 57% of Dutch GPs indicated that Dutch patients receive too much health care. This is an unexpected finding, given the clear gatekeeper role of Dutch GPs and recent efforts strengthening this role.

Objectives: The study aims to explore where perceived overuse of care prevails and to identify factors associated with too much care at the entry point of Dutch health care.