The discussion between general practitioners (GPs) and healthcare delivery organizations necessitates a common language. The presentation of the 4 types of GP’s activities, opens dialogue but can lead to possible misunderstandings between the micro- and macro-level of the healthcare system. This commentary takes 4 examples: costs reduction by P4, priority of beneficence or nonmaleficence, role ...

Quaternary prevention is the prevention of unnecessary medicine or the prevention of overmedicalisation. The principle of “primum non nocere” is central to the whole of medicine. The task to avoid excess medical interventions is particularly mandatory in the field of general practice. We report on a workshop on this topic held at the 15th Wonca Europe Conference in Basel, in September 2009. In ...

The article analyzes literature problems using as a parameter the quaternary prevention concept, introducing guidelines to have good shared decisions that avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment and improve the quality of life. The author proposes a four-step approach: reliable evidence, awareness about populations profile, independent research analysis, and an understandable format by ordinary p...

the article of marc jamoulle shows the importance of the contribution of general practitioners (gps) in improving the quality and the efficiency of the health systems. starting from the concept of quaternary prevention for reducing excessive costs in the preventive procedures, he suggests a change of paradigm in every daily activity of the gp in order to have a stronger ethical approach to the ...