How do patients perceive the retirement of their general practitioner? A qualitative interview study in France

Objectives The perspective of general practitioners’ (GPs) on retirement and the factors influencing their attitude towards retirement have been previously investigated. However, while the number of GPs has been declining for many years in France, leading to the emergence of medical deserts, the impact on their patients remains to be explored. The aim of this study was to understand patients’ perceptions of their GP’s retirement.Design A semistructured interview-based qualitative study was conducted, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.Setting Interviews were conducted in two general practices located in Essonne, Ile-de-France, France, between January and April 2014.Participants Thirteen women and five men, aged 21–94 years, were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were the non-declaration of the physician as the declared doctor and being under 18 years of age.Results The GP–patient relationship is a link that is built up over time, over the course of several consultations. Patients choose their GP based on qualities or skills they value. In this way, the physician chosen is unique for their patients; this choice reflects a certain loyalty to their physician. The interaction with the family sphere reinforces this relationship through the multiple links created during care. When a GP retires, this link is broken. Patients’ reactions can range from indifference to real grief.Conclusion This study confirms the importance of the link between the GPs and their patients and highlights the need to prepare patients for their GP’s retirement.