Abstract
The demand for GP care is increasing while the number of GPs is decreasing. We investigated how GPs perceive bureaucracy during the process of establishing their own practice and how this perception changes with increasing establishment experience.Physicians who wished to set up a practice or who were in the process of setting up a practice and those who, up to two years and two to five years previously, had set up a GP practice were interviewed digitally following an interview guide. The recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Braun & Clarkes Thematic Analysis.The 18 interviewees identified "bureaucracy" in various areas unrelated to patient care. A habituation effect occurs after the practice has been established. Resources for coping with bureaucratic challenges were mentioned.The participants define bureaucracy as any activity that is distant from the patient. Dealing with this should be made easier despite the habituation that occurs. Electronic processes and support through advice can help to overcome bureaucratic hurdles, and positive examples mentioned should be systematised. GPs view bureaucracy as a hurdle to setting up a practice, but it does not influence their decision to establish their own practice. Therefore, while still relevant, bureaucracy is found to be less important than previous research suggests.