In This Issue: Longitudinal Follow-up Yields New Insights

Abstract

The articles in this issue show that carefully following people over time can generate understanding that is not available from information analyzed at only one time point. Such longitudinal studies can be challenging to carry out without strong health care system support for continuity of relationships and information, or without considerable investment in individual study cohorts. The longitudinal studies in this issue reveal: Sustainability in improvement from a low-intensity disease management intervention for chronically depressed primary care patients1 The effect of participatory decision making on clinical outcomes in people with diabetes2 The processes by which communication among primary care practice members can be sustained3 How using two different measures of socioeconomic status can reduce potential biases that result in undertreatment of cardiovascular risk factors4 How limited adherence to sequential screening limits the potential effectiveness of fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer5 The effect on prescribing patterns of a policy prohibiting pharmaceutical industry interaction and drug samples6 Quality of care of comorbid conditions among long-term cancer survivors in an integrated, population focused, health care system based on primary care7 How a clinician’s personal experience of a meth-acillin-resistant staphylococcus infection can create barriers in relationships with patients8 Also in this issue, a qualitative study uses game theory to inform understanding of the relationship between continuity of care and the development of patient trust.9 An important study by Williams et al10 shows that from the perspective of community members, current research participant protection criteria do not match the nature of community-based health research. Finally, a new and potentially helpful way of conceptualizing chronic disease management and behavior change is proposed by Ferrer and Carrasco11 and featured in the Annals Journal Club. Please join the online discussion of these articles at http://www.AnnFamMed.org.