{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,28]],"date-time":"2026-07-28T05:00:03Z","timestamp":1785214803492,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,28]],"date-time":"2026-07-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785196800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A substantial challenge in Hungary\u2019s publicly funded primary care system is the rising proportion of unfilled general practitioner and dentist practices over the past several years, which negatively impacts the public\u2019s access to primary care services. The practice cluster model introduced in 2021 aims to improve public access and strengthen collaboration among primary care providers, with a particular focus on interprofessional relationships between general practitioners and dentists.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methodology<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>As part of the study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 36 primary care professionals (18 general practitioners and 18 dentists) between January and March 2026. Sampling was targeted to ensure diversity across geography, demographics, and practice type. We analyzed the data using Mayring\u2019s content analysis method, organized into thematic categories.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The primary motivation for joining primary care clusters was financial incentives, while the development of professional collaboration played a secondary role. The intensity of collaboration between general practitioners and dentists varies; nearly half of the interviewees reported minimal contact. The main areas of collaboration include oral diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and medication consultations. Cooperation is most often hindered by heavy workloads, communication gaps, and regulatory and financial constraints.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Primary care clusters offer opportunities for developing interprofessional collaboration; however, systemic barriers limit the realization of this potential. To achieve more effective collaboration, it is necessary to improve communication, establish professional protocols, and reform the financial, regulatory, and infrastructural frameworks.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2026.1879525","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,28]],"date-time":"2026-07-28T04:25:21Z","timestamp":1785212721000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Collaboration between dentists and general practitioners in primary care clusters in Hungary"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Ferenc","family":"Mar\u00e1czi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Attila","family":"Vir\u00e1g","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, P\u00e1zm\u00e1ny P\u00e9ter Catholic University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gerg\u0151","family":"T\u00fari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Epidemiology and Surveillance Centre, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]},{"name":"Synthesis Health Research Foundation","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"P\u00e9ter","family":"Pik\u00f3","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine University of Debrecen","place":["Debrecen, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Csilla","family":"Kaposv\u00e1ri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Synthesis Health Research Foundation","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]},{"name":"Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rita","family":"Teller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Humanities, E\u00f6tv\u00f6s Lor\u00e1nd University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Csaba L\u00e1szl\u00f3","family":"D\u00f3zsa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Gy\u0151r","place":["Gy\u0151r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Istv\u00e1n","family":"Vingender","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, 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