Table. Characteristics of individuals seeking help by access pathway.
| Telephone consultation | Online self-assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| n | 6 067 734 | 897 232 |
| Sex | ||
| Male | 41.7 | 38.8 |
| Female | 58.2 | 57.0 |
| n.s. | < 0.1 | 4.2 |
| Age group | ||
| < 14 Years | 13.8 | 11.0 |
| 14–49 Years | 32.2 | 69.1 |
| 50–65 Years | 15.6 | 10.0 |
| 66–80 Years | 17.6 | 3.6 |
| > 80 Years | 20.9 | 2.1 |
| n.s. | < 0.1 | 4.2 |
| Time of day | ||
| Daytime (08:00–19:59) vs. nighttime | 69.6 | 67.8 |
| Day of the week | ||
| Mon-Fri vs. weekends/public holidays | 48.6 | 59.7 |
| Practice opening hours *1 | ||
| During vs. outside | 27.1 | 38.8 |
| Urgency of care | ||
| Emergency | 5.1 | 14.3 |
| Immediate medical care | 44.7 | 42.1 |
| Medical attention within 24 h | 33.5 | 28.9 |
| Medical attention > 24 h | 16.2 | 14.7 |
| n.s./Survey unclear | 0.5 | < 0.1 |
| Level of care | ||
| 112/Emergency services | 3.4 | 11.0 |
| Emergency department | 24.8 | 35.6 |
| Contract physician | 51.6 | 41.0 |
| Remote consultation (telephone or video) | 19.6 | 12.3 |
| n.s./Survey unclear | 0.6 | 0.1 |
| Reason category | ||
| General symptoms*2 | 17.4 | 12.8 |
| Respiratory/cardiovascular symptoms | 14.3 | 13.8 |
| Eye/ENT symptoms | 12.6 | 18.0 |
| Digestive/urinary system symptoms | 20.6 | 15.5 |
| Symptoms of the male/female reproductive organs | 1.5 | 2.8 |
| Skin symptoms | 6.1 | 5.7 |
| Musculoskeletal symptoms | 14.9 | 10.3 |
| Neurological symptoms | 3.3 | 5.0 |
| Mental health symptoms | 1.8 | 8.2 |
| Injury/general pain/bleeding | 7.5 | 7.7 |
Values are given in percent, except for line “n”
“During practice opening hours,” as specified in the German fee schedule item (Gebührenordnungsposition, GOP) 01210: between 07:00 and 19:00 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and 24 and 31 December); “outside practice opening hours,” as specified in GOP 01212: between 19:00 and 07:00 on the following day; all day on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and on 24 and 31 December
Allergy symptoms, loss of appetite, blood sugar problems, (suspected) COVID-19, reduced ability to perform everyday activities, cold/flu, fever, frailty, weight changes, immunization reaction, lymph node complaints, fatigue, sunstroke/heat stroke, malaise, poisoning
Source: SmED data for 2022–2024, German Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Vereinigungen)