[Health services research in general practice--a Bavarian perspective]

Background: The aim of this review is to provide an overview about health services research in Bavarian primary care.

Methods: The academic development of general practice and the associated health services research is described within this narrative -review.

Results: Health services research is a heterogeneous field which might be best described for primary care as "research along the last mile of the health care System". Various elements are evolving in Bavarian primary care research, like investigation of diagnostic issues, impact of psychosomatic co-morbidity on patient management and maintenance of medical services in rural areas. Strategies to analyse and interpret routine data are established in cooperation with the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVB) which alleviates understanding of health care in Bavaria.

Conclusion: The development of health services research in primary care is accompanied by the evolution of general practice as an academic discipline. Health services research should be strengthened to improve understanding and management of health care resource use. The presence of oversupply in large attractive cities combined with a shortage of physicians in rural areas is a specific challenge for health care planning in Bavaria. This is of importance for medical care of the ageing population; and needs to be addressed with reference to the shortage of general practitioners in rural areas.