Preventive Care Counseling Research Articles

Community-engaged optimization of COVID-19 rapid evaluation and testing experiences: roll-out implementation optimization trial

BackgroundThere continues to be a need for COVID-19 testing that is pragmatic, community-centered, and sustainable. This study will refine and test implementation strategies prioritized by community partners: (1) walk-up no-cost testing, (2) community health worker (promotores)-facilitated testing and preventive care counseling, (3) vending machines that dispense no-cost, self-testing kits.MethodsA co-designed Theory of Change from an earlier study phase and the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainment Model (PRISM) will guide the study design, measures selection, and evaluation. The first aim is to refine and operationalize a multi-component implementation strategy bundle and outcome measures for COVID-19 testing. A Community and Scientific Advisory Board (CSAB) will be established and include community members, clinical providers/staff from the partnering Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), public health researchers, policymakers, and a county health department ambassador. Engagement of CSAB members will be assessed through structured ethnography and a survey about the quality and quantity of engagement practices. The second aim is to implement and evaluate the impact of the implementation strategy bundle to optimize COVID-19 testing in communities using a roll-out implementation optimization (ROIO) design. Seven thousand and five hundred community members will be enrolled across four FQHC clinics over 18 months. Participants will be invited to complete an electronic survey about their demographics, health, and COVID-19 testing results and experiences. CSAB members and clinic partners will participate in PRISM fit and determinant assessments prior to each clinic rollout and post-trial. Interviews will be conducted with 60 community participants and 12 providers/staff following a 3-month rollout period at each clinic, inquiring about their experiences with the implementation strategies. Quantitative data will be analyzed using hierarchical multilevel models to determine the impact of implementation strategies. Qualitative data will be analyzed using rapid qualitative approaches to summarize implementation experiences and identify necessary changes prior to subsequent rollouts. A matrix approach will be used to triangulate data from quantitative and qualitative sources based on PRISM domains.DiscussionThis is one of the first pragmatic implementation trials to use a ROIO design and aims to co-create a sustainable and equitable COVID-19 testing program. Findings are likely to generalize to other public health prevention efforts.Trial registrationNCT05894655 March 2, 2023.

Germline Variants Incidentally Detected via Tumor-Only Genomic Profiling of Patients With Mesothelioma

Patients with mesothelioma often have next-generation sequencing (NGS) of their tumor performed; tumor-only NGS may incidentally identify germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants despite not being designed for this purpose. It is unknown how frequently patients with mesothelioma have germline P/LP variants incidentally detected via tumor-only NGS. To determine the prevalence of incidental germline P/LP variants detected via tumor-only NGS of mesothelioma. A series of 161 unrelated patients with mesothelioma from a high-volume mesothelioma program had tumor-only and germline NGS performed during April 2016 to October 2021. Follow-up ranged from 18 months to 7 years. Tumor and germline assays were compared to determine which P/LP variants identified via tumor-only NGS were of germline origin. Data were analyzed from January to March 2023. The proportion of patients with mesothelioma who had P/LP germline variants incidentally detected via tumor-only NGS. Of 161 patients with mesothelioma, 105 were male (65%), the mean (SD) age was 64.7 (11.2) years, and 156 patients (97%) self-identified as non-Hispanic White. Most (126 patients [78%]) had at least 1 potentially incidental P/LP germline variant. The positive predictive value of a potentially incidental germline P/LP variant on tumor-only NGS was 20%. Overall, 26 patients (16%) carried a P/LP germline variant. Germline P/LP variants were identified in ATM, ATR, BAP1, CHEK2, DDX41, FANCM, HAX1, MRE11A, MSH6, MUTYH, NF1, SAMD9L, and TMEM127. In this case series of 161 patients with mesothelioma, 16% had confirmed germline P/LP variants. Given the implications of a hereditary cancer syndrome diagnosis for preventive care and familial counseling, clinical approaches for addressing incidental P/LP germline variants in tumor-only NGS are needed. Tumor-only sequencing should not replace dedicated germline testing. Universal germline testing is likely needed for patients with mesothelioma.

Association Between Capitated Payments and Preventive Care Among U.S. Adults

There is increasing interest in using capitation rather than fee for service to promote primary care and population health. The goal of this study was to examine the association between practice reimbursement mix (majority fee for service versus majority capitation versus other) and receipt of common preventive screening examinations and health counseling from 2012 to 2018. Using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a retrospective cross-sectional study of 24,864 visits with primary care clinicians among patients aged 18-75 years without a cancer diagnosis was conducted. The main dependent measures were age- and sex-appropriate receipt of breast cancer screening, osteoporosis screening, cervical cancer screening, chlamydia testing, colon cancer screening, diabetes screening, and hyperlipidemia screening as well as 3 health counseling items. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between reimbursement mix and receipt of preventive care, adjusted for patient, visit, and practice characteristics. Majority capitation reimbursement was associated with a greater likelihood of receiving breast cancer screening (AOR=2.11, 95% CI=1.16, 3.84, p=0.014) and osteoporosis screening (AOR=4.34, 95% CI=1.74, 10.8, p=0.0017) than majority fee-for-service or other reimbursement mixes. Reimbursement mix was not associated with the likelihood of receiving 9 other preventive care or health counseling services. Larger amounts of capitation reimbursement may improve some but not all aspects of preventive care compared with fee for service.

Causes and age of neonatal death and associations with maternal and newborn care characteristics in Nepal: a verbal autopsy study

BackgroundIn Nepal, neonatal mortality fell substantially between 2000 and 2018, decreasing 50% from 40 to 20 deaths per 1,000 live births. Nepal’s success has been attributed to a decreasing total fertility rate, improvements in female education, increases in coverage of skilled care at birth, and community-based child survival interventions.MethodsA verbal autopsy study, led by the Integrated Rural Health Development Training Centre (IRHDTC), conducted interviews for 338 neonatal deaths across six districts in Nepal between April 2012 and April 2013. We conducted a secondary analysis of verbal autopsy data to understand how cause and age of neonatal death are related to health behaviors, care seeking practices, and coverage of essential services in Nepal.ResultsSepsis was the leading cause of neonatal death (n=159/338, 47.0%), followed by birth asphyxia (n=56/338, 16.6%), preterm birth (n=45/338, 13.3%), and low birth weight (n=17/338, 5.0%). Neonatal deaths occurred primarily on the first day of life (27.2%) and between days 1 and 6 (64.8%) of life. Risk of death due birth asphyxia relative to sepsis was higher among mothers who were nulligravida, had <4 antenatal care visits, and had a multiple birth; risk of death due to prematurity relative to sepsis was lower for women who made ≥1 delivery preparation and higher for women with a multiple birth.ConclusionsOur findings suggest cause and age of death distributions typically associated with high mortality settings. Increased coverage of preventive antenatal care interventions and counseling are critically needed. Delays in care seeking for newborn illness and quality of care around the time of delivery and for sick newborns are important points of intervention with potential to reduce deaths, particularly for birth asphyxia and sepsis, which remain common in this population.

State of Women in Medicine: History, Challenges, and the Benefits of a Diverse Workforce.

Women in medicine have made progress since Elizabeth Blackwell: the first women to receive her medical degree in the United States in 1849. Yetalthough women currently represent just over one-half of medical school applicants and matriculates, they continue to face many challenges that hinder them from entering residency, achieving leadership positions that exhibit final decision-making and budgetary power, and, in academic medicine, being promoted. Challenges include gender bias in promotion, salary inequity, professional isolation, bullying, sexual harassment, and lack of recognition, all of which lead to higher rates of attrition and burnout in women physicians. These challenges are even greater for women from groups that have historically been marginalized and excluded, in all aspects of their career and especially in achieving leadership positions. It is important to note that, in several studies, it was indicated that women physicians are more likely to adhere to clinical guidelines, provide preventive care and psychosocial counseling, and spend more time with their patients than their male peers. Additionally, some studies reveal improved clinical outcomes with women physicians. Therefore, it is critical for health care systems to promote workforce diversity in medicine and support women physicians in their career development and success and their wellness from early to late career.

Bi-allelic variant c.8638_8658dup in HYDIN causes bronchiectasis in two siblings

• Bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in HYDIN cause Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) • The PCD patients presented with respiratory distress, chronic cough, bronchitis, and rhino-sinusitis • Exome sequencing identified a novel bi-allelic variant c.8638_8658dup in HYDIN in siblings with bronchiectasis • Next-generation sequencing would benefit PCD patients since early and accurate diagnosis • Accurate diagnosis facilitates early intervention of preventive respiratory care and definitive genetic counseling

Family Medicine Clerkship Teaching About Contraception: Meeting a Need.

Introduction: Women’s healthcare including preventive care, obstetric care, and family planning and counseling are important medical education topics that student physicians frequently encounter during their Family Medicine Clerkship in medical training; however, despite its brief emphasis, many students feel underprepared to counsel patients in a clinical setting. With this in mind, a case-based curriculum focused on women’s health was developed for students enrolled in the Family Medicine Clerkship.Methods: During the 2018-2019 academic year, 127 students on the Family Medicine Clerkship at the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM) participated in three two-hour sessions on the topics of adolescent preventive health care, obstetric care, and contraceptive counseling. These sessions incorporated cases, role-play activities, and pre-session readings. An optional, anonymous, paper-based pre-session survey of Likert-type questions was administered prior to the first session and a post-session survey of Likert-type questions was given following the final session. IRB exemption was obtained.Results: The pre-session survey showed that 41.67% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they were confident in their ability to perform female contraceptive counseling. After the sessions, 92.68% of students agreed or strongly agreed that the case addressing contraceptive counseling was of clinical value to their learning needs. Conclusion: Given that less than half of the students felt confident in their counseling abilities prior to these sessions, this curriculum is potentially addressing an unmet educational need. Students found this session to be relevant, indicating that a case-based discussion curriculum that incorporates both pre-session reading materials and role-play interactions may be a promising educational approach.

Old-aged patients’ experiences with patient-centered primary health care in Serbia

Abstract Objective The population in Serbia is getting older, with the population aged 65+ increasing from 17.2% to 19.6% (2007-2017). As people age, their health needs become more complex and health services must be adopted to their needs. Patient-centeredness is regarded as the basis for modern healthcare services. Patients' satisfaction surveys are widely used to identify experiences of patients, including old ones. The aim of this study was to assess old-patient centeredness of primary healthcare (PHC) in Serbia according to patients' experiences with healthcare workers. Methods Between 2009 and 2015 cross-sectional studies were conducted in 169 Serbian PHC centers (160.948 patients), thereby using a questionnaire referring to socio-demographic characteristics, preventive care counseling, experiences with general practitioners (GPs) (knowledge of patients' health status, listening, giving clear explanations concerning illness and medicines), nurses (friendliness and provision of information), co-payment for healthcare and the overall satisfaction with PHC. Non-parametric tests (Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis) were used for statistical analyses. Results A large portion of the respondents asserted to be satisfied or very satisfied with the obtained PHC services, the majority had positive experiences with GPs and nurses. About one third (32.7%) of patients were 60 years or older. Significant differences concerning the number of positive experiences in contact with GPs and nurses were found between age groups. In both domains patients 60 years or older, had more positive experiences and were overall more satisfied with PHC services than younger (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusions The results show that old aged patients have positive experiences with GPs and nurses in Serbian PHC. Primary health care meets their needs and can be regarded as patient-centered. The main limitation of the study was the lack of a questionnaire specific for old aged, which could better explore their needs and experiences. Key messages Patient-centeredness is regarded as the basis for modern healthcare services and doctors and nurses have leading role in providing patient-centered healthcare. Old aged patients have specific healthcare needs and health systems have big challenge in obtaining adequate health care with good health outcomes.

Basic aspects of the pathogenesis and prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer in solid organ transplant recipients: a review.

As numbers of transplant recipients and survival rates increase, the vulnerability of this population to several malignancies also rises. Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) carries the highest rates of morbidity and mortality in this population. To avoid these malignancies, it is necessary to identify particular risk factors in transplant recipients and to follow preventive protocols. The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were reviewed using as keywords the medical subject headings (MeSH) "transplantation", "skin neoplasm" and "prevention". The search was limited to clinical trials, randomized clinical trials and case-control studies conducted during the previous 20 years. The most important risk factors for the development of NMSCs in the transplant recipient population are cumulative ultraviolet radiation exposure, use of immunosuppressive agents (especially azathioprine as a photosensitizing agent) and infections by human papillomaviruses. The use of sun protection and retinoids were identified as possible protective factors. Other potential therapies, such as antioxidants, difluormethylornithine and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, require further study. Patient risk factors for the development of NMSC should be reviewed during the transplant consultation. Individuals found to be at increased risk should undergo closer follow-up and preventive care counseling. This article proposes an algorithm for the prevention of NMSC.

Measurement system analysis (MSA) of empirically derived composite measure of preventive care counseling practices of HIV medical care providers

Background: Although preventive care services and risk reduction counseling are offered to HIV patients during their routine clinic visits, assessment of clinicians practice performance has been difficult because of the use of many separate indicators. Objective: To assess the measurement system of empirically-derived composite measure of preventive care practices of HIV medical care providers (overall preventive care counseling index, OPCi) in managed care clinical settings using the following statistical properties: precision (gauge reproducibility and repeatability, gauge R&R), accuracy (bias and linearity), stability, and process capability. Materials and Methods: Data used were obtained from the cross-sectional survey of HIV medical care providers in 13 HIV care facilities in Houston/Harris County, Texas, USA, that participated in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Medical Monitoring Project in 2009. Result: Domain-specific preventive care counseling indices developed produced significant (p ≤ 0.05) Cronbach’s alpha coefficients that ranged from 0.64 to 0.91. The variance components for OPCi attributed to the provider and patient statuses were 29.7% and 31.4%, respectively, while the gauge R&R was 68.6%. A high percent gauge R&R precision to tolerance ratio (99.13%) and precision to total variation ratio (82.85%) were obtained. With measurement system intraclass correlations without bias factors (rpe) of 0.45 and with bias factors (rb) of 0.31, the system was classified as “third class monitor,” indicating the need for process improvement. However, the system expanded uncertainty was within set range at 99% confidence level making it statistically “stable” and “capable” at a process capability ratio (Cp) of 0.999 (95% CI: 0.793–1.205) and long-term sigma yield of 2.292. Conclusion: Reduction in measurement variations would enhance providers’ performance output and improve both the quality of preventive care counseling received and the overall health outcome of HIV patients.

Preventive care counseling practices of HIV medical care providers: Relationships between empirically-derived composite measures of performance

Background: Preventive care services and risk-reduction counseling are routinely offered to HIV patients during their routine clinic visits. However, assessment of clinicians’ performance on these practices has been difficult because of the use of many single indicators. This study attempts to evaluate the relationships between empirically-derived composite measures of preventive care counseling practices by HIV medical care providers (HMCP) in outpatient clinical care settings. Methods: Data used in this study were obtained from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention Medical Monitoring Project HMCP’ survey conducted in Houston/Harris County, Texas between June and September of 2009. Six domain-specific composite preventive care counseling indices developed were subjected to descriptive and correlation analyses. Results: All preventive care counseling indices developed produced significant (P ≤ 0.05) Cronbach’s alpha coefficients that ranged from 0.64 to 0.91. The overall prevention counseling index was significantly (P < 0.001) correlated with all the domain specific indices across patient status (r = 0.67-0.89). There were greater correlations between risk-reduction index (RRi) and disease screening index (DSi), mental health, and substance use index (MSi) and social and family support index in established patients (r = 0.55-0.73, P ≤ 0.01) compared to those in newly-diagnosed patients (r = 0.44-0.56, P ≤ 0.05). Although medication and adherence index was significantly associated with RRi (r = 0.50, P < 0.001) and DSi (r = 0.46, P < 0.001) in the sample population, these associations, disappeared (P > 0.05) during by-group analysis based on patient status. Conclusions: Understanding the magnitude, direction, and probability of relationships between the preventive care counseling indices may help with providers’ self-assessment and prioritization of efforts in areas that will produce better health outcomes and prevent transmission of HIV/sexually transmitted diseases.

Frequency and Determinants of Preventive Care Counseling by HIV Medical Care Providers during Encounters with Newly Diagnosed and Established HIV-Infected Patients.

This study evaluates the frequency and determinants of preventive care counseling by HIV medical care providers (HMCPs) during encounters with newly diagnosed and established HIV-infected patients. Data used were from a probability sample of HMCPs in Houston/Harris County, Texas, surveyed in 2009. Overall, HMCPs offered more preventive care counseling to newly diagnosed than the established patients (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 7.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.86-16.80). They were more likely to counsel newly diagnosed patients than the established ones on medication and adherence (AOR = 14.70; 95% CI = 1.24-24.94), HIV risk reduction (AOR = 5.91; 95% CI = 0.48-7.13), and disease screening (AOR = 7.20; 95% CI = 0.72-11.81). HIV medical care providers who were less than 45 years of age, infectious disease specialists, and had less than 30 minutes of encounter time were less likely to counsel patients regardless of the status. Our findings suggest the need for HMCPs to improve their preventive care counseling efforts, in order to help patients build skills for adopting and maintaining safe behavior that could assist in reducing the risk of HIV transmission.

Directly observed care: can unannounced standardized patients address a gap in performance measurement?

There are three potential sources of information for evaluating a clinician's performance: documentation, patient report, and directly observed care. Current measures draw on just two of these: data recorded in the medical record and surveys of patients. Neither captures an array of performance characteristics, including clinician attention to symptoms and signs while taking a history or conducting a physical exam, accurate recording in the medical record of information obtained during the encounter, evidence based communication strategies for preventive care counseling, and effective communication behavior. Unannounced Standardized Patients (USPs) have been widely deployed as a research strategy for systematically uncovering significant performance deficits in each of these areas, but have not been adopted for quality improvement. Likely obstacles include concerns about the ethics of sending health professionals sham patients, the technical challenges of the subterfuge, and concerns about the relatively small sample sizes and substantial costs involved. However, the high frequency of significant and remediable performance deficits unmasked by USPs, and the potential to adapt registration and record keeping systems to accommodate their visits, suggest that their selective and purposeful deployment could be a cost effective and powerful strategy for addressing a gap in performance measurement.

Employee Attitudes Toward Participation in a Work Site-Based Health and Wellness Clinic

Purpose: To conduct a needs assessment to determine employee attitudes and barriers toward participation in a multidisciplinary work site-based health and wellness clinic. Methods: A 21-question survey was developed and sent electronically to all available (n = 874) employees of a self-insured employer. Results: Of the 303 survey respondents (34.7% response rate), 67.3% (n = 204) individuals indicated a desire to meet with a pharmacist regarding medication information. Medication therapy management (MTM) services most often selected by survey respondents included basic education about each medication and its intended purpose (33%, n = 100); education on self-care (30%, n = 91); and information on generic or less expensive alternative medications and strategies for cost savings (25.1%, n = 76). Eighty-eight (29%) respondents indicated a desire for preventive care counseling to receive guidance on recommended disease screenings, immunizations, and other recommended services. Additional interest was observed in nutrition coaching (n = 131, 43.2%) and exercise programming (n = 272, 89.4%). Conclusions: The majority of respondents indicated a desire to participate in a work site-based health and wellness clinic, regardless of baseline health status or medication use. These data provide insight into the needs and preferences of participants in work site wellness programs and shows the value of a needs assessment.

Differences in Pediatric Preventive Care Counseling by Provider Type

Many children in the United States do not receive advice about health behaviors and injury prevention during routine preventive care visits. We investigated the role of provider type in the probability of receiving advice. We analyzed children aged 3 to 17 in the Medical Expenditure Panel Data 2002 to 2003 surveys who had only 1 preventive clinic or office visit in the past year. We examined whether provider type affects whether the child is advised about healthy eating, physical activity, the harmful effects of smoking in the home, proper safety restraints in a car, and use of a helmet when riding a bicycle. Pediatricians were more likely to advise about healthy eating (63.6% vs 46.8% for other physicians and 41.1% for nonphysicians; P < .01). They were also more likely than nonphysicians to advise about exercise (40.1% vs 22.2%), the harmful effects of parental smoking (42.4% vs 21.4%), proper safety restraints in a car (39.9% vs 20.5%), and use of a bicycle helmet (45.7% vs 20.9%). Regardless of provider type, rates of advice were low. Many pediatric providers, particularly those not trained as pediatricians, are missing opportunities to advise about health behaviors and injury prevention.

Adolescents’ Preventive Care Experiences Before Entry Into the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

Adolescence has traditionally been thought of as a time of good health. However, adolescents comprise an important group with unique needs among State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) enrollees. Throughout the 1990s, there was increasing evidence of unacceptably high morbidity and mortality among adolescents from injuries, suicide, sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, and other conditions associated with risk behaviors. The establishment of relationships with the health care system can ensure prompt treatment and help promote healthy behaviors, assuming that the adolescent feels comfortable seeking help for his or her health-related concerns. However, health care systems typically are not designed to ensure that adolescents receive the primary and preventive care that might ameliorate the negative consequences of health-damaging behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the following hypotheses. 1) Adolescents with special health care needs, those engaging in risk behaviors, and those who were insured before program enrollment would be more likely than those who were healthy and those not engaging in risk behaviors to have a preventive care visit in the year preceding the interview. No differences would be observed in the odds of preventive care visits based on age, race/ethnicity, and gender. 2) No differences would be observed in the receipt of risk-behavior counseling for those with a preventive care visit based on the adolescents' sociodemographic and health characteristics. 3) Adolescents who were older would be more likely to engage in risk behaviors than younger adolescents. There would be no differences in reports of risk behaviors based on gender, race/ethnicity, and children with special health care needs status. Adolescents 12 to 19 years old and newly enrolled in SCHIP were eligible for the study. Telephone interviews were conducted within 3 months after enrollment with parents of adolescents to obtain sociodemographic information and information about the adolescents' health by using the Children with Special Health Care Needs screener. Interviews also were conducted with the adolescents themselves to obtain information about the adolescents' risk behaviors and experiences with preventive care before SCHIP enrollment. Interviews were completed with 1872 parents. In addition, a total of 918 interviews were completed with adolescents. Approximately 73% of adolescents reported engaging in at least one risk behavior. Approximately 69% reported having a primary care visit during the last year with 46% of those reporting that the visit was private. Of those reporting a primary care visit, between 41% and 53% reported receiving counseling along 1 of the 5 content dimensions of anticipatory guidance. Older adolescents were more likely to engage in risk behaviors than younger adolescents. Hispanic adolescents were approximately 30% less likely than white non-Hispanic adolescents to report engaging in risk behaviors. In terms of having a preventive care visit, adolescents with a special need were twice as likely to have a visit when compared with their healthy counterparts. Hispanics and black non-Hispanics were half as likely to have a preventive care visit (odds ratios of 0.59 and 0.54, respectively) than white non-Hispanics. Those engaging in risk behaviors were almost 50% less likely to report private preventive care visits than those reporting no risk behaviors. Privacy during the preventive care visit was associated with a greater odds of receiving counseling for risk behaviors in general, sexual activity, and emotional health and relationships. Depending on the type of counseling, those with private preventive care visits were 2 to 3 times more likely to receive the counseling than those whose visits were not private. In addition, those engaging in risk behaviors were 1.45 to almost 2 times more likely to receive counseling than those not engaging in any risk behaviors. Based on our findings, health plans health plans and providers involved in SCHIP are likely to serve adolescents who have had limited opportunities for private preventive care visits and counseling during such visits. The most underserved are likely to be black and Hispanic adolescents who may have had no preventive care at all compared with their white non-Hispanic counterparts. State agencies, health plans, and providers need to follow established guidelines for adolescent health care that emphasize the provision of counseling for risk behaviors for all adolescents, not just those engaging in risk behaviors or those with special health care needs. Moreover, providers need to seek opportunities to ensure privacy for the adolescents during their preventive care visits so that much-needed counseling can be provided. Particular attention needs to be given to adolescents from minority groups to encourage them to seek preventive care.

Characteristics of female psychiatrists.

This study assessed within-gender differences between psychiatrists and other physicians by using data taken from a large national sample of U.S. female physicians. The authors used data from the Women Physicians' Health Study, a large, national questionnaire-based survey conducted in 1993-1994, to compare characteristics of female psychiatrists (N=570) with those of other female physicians (N=3,875). Psychiatrists were older, in poorer health, less likely to be married, more likely to be current or ex-smokers, and more likely to be politically liberal than were the other female physicians. Psychiatrists were somewhat (although not necessarily significantly) more likely than the other female physicians to report having had personal or family histories of various psychiatric disorders. Psychiatrists were more likely to have a solo practice and less likely to be in a group practice. They worked fewer hours than the other female physicians but reported comparable hourly incomes. Psychiatrists did not differ from the other female physicians in perceived work amount, work stress, work control, or career satisfaction. Their satisfaction with their specialty was, however, greater than that of the other female physicians. For nearly all of the 14 preventive health care counseling practices examined, the amount of preventive counseling psychiatrists reported performing, the clinical relevance they ascribed to those practices, their self-confidence in performing the practices, and the amount of training they reported receiving in preventive counseling practices was significantly lower than that of primary care practitioners and lower than or comparable to that of other specialists. Female psychiatrists significantly differ from other female physicians with regard to a number of personal and professional dimensions.

Implementing preventive services: to what extent can we change provider performance in ambulatory care? A review of the screening, immunization, and counseling literature.

Strategies to improve the delivery of preventive care often consist of office-based interventions, which are designed to modify provider behaviors or practice patterns. We report on a meta-analysis of 117 behavioral outcomes extracted from 43 studies. Meta-analytic techniques were used to express the results in a common metric, which allowed quantitative comparisons across outcomes. Studies were examined by domains of preventive care (screening, immunization, and counseling) and divided into two groups based on unit of analysis (provider or patient categories). The mean effect size reflects the difference in proportion of physicians providing the targeted behavior between the experimental and comparison groups. In the provider category, the weighted mean effect size for screening was .14, for immunization was .18, and for counseling was .28. In the patient category, the weighted means for screening and immunization were .12 and .15, respectively, but were smaller for the counseling (.08). Because tests for homogeneity of effect sizes were rejected in the patient category, caution in interpreting mean effect sizes is warranted because of variability across individual values. In summary, office-based interventions were found to have positive effects on providers' adherence to preventive recommendations. We discuss the methodological issues and needs for future work to enhance the delivery of preventive services.

Evaluation of the VA's Pilot Program in Institutional Reorganization toward Primary and Ambulatory Care: Part I, Changes in process and outcomes of care.

To evaluate the impact of the reorganization of an academic Veterans Affairs medical center toward primary and ambulatory care--including the implementation of a medical-center-wide interdisciplinary firm system and ambulatory care training program--on the quality of primary ambulatory care. Randomly selected male veterans visiting the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Sepulveda, California, were surveyed in 1992, early in the implementation of the program, and in 1993, after the program had been fully implemented. Two surveys were used: one before the veterans saw their primary care providers (practice-based survey) and the other immediately after patient visits (visit-based survey). Survey-participant data were then linked to computerized utilization and mortality data. Survey topics were mapped to the medical center's strategic plan and goals for ambulatory care, and focused on patients' reports about the care they had received in terms of continuity, access, preventive care, and other aspects of the biopsychosocial model of care. Administrative computer data were then used to evaluate effects on medical center workload. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, chi-square, and logistic regression. For practice-based comparisons, complete data were available for 1,262 veterans in 1992 and 1,373 in 1993. For visit-based comparisons, complete data were available for 1,407 veterans in 1992 and 643 in 1993. Results included statistically significant improvements in continuity of care and detection of depression as well as increased rates of preventive care counseling (smoking and exercise). The proportion of veterans reporting being seen by physicians increased, as did the proportion of patients seen for check-ups rather than for acute problems. Fewer patients were seen in subspecialty clinics than in general medicine clinics. Patient satisfaction increased, hospitalizations decreased, and death rates decreased. Alcohol counseling and access to care for acute symptoms declined. Workload shifted from subspecialists to generalists and from inpatient care to outpatient care. The institutional reorganization toward primary and ambulatory care succeeded in substantially improving the quality of ambulatory care, reflecting improvements in the system of care and of health care provider training in ambulatory care.

The new health professionals: three examples.

Many different types of health professionals have come into being during the past twenty years. For the most part they have accompanied or expanded technologies and have been essential to their application. How­ ever, the term is generally used, and is so used by us, to describe the nurse practitioner (NP) and the physician's assistant (P A). These two health professionals were launched on the medical care scene in the mid-1960s, took root and grew in the early 1970s, and soon after plateaued in growth. Although not new in the same sense, we have included the nurse-midwife in our discussions, because this profession had no real hold in the United States until after the birth of the health professionals. The health professionals came into being as a response to a felt shortage of physicians, especially primary care physicians. Primary care can be considered care for episodes of acute illness, preventive care counseling and education, and continuing care for most chronic disease; primary care is the patient's introduction to and pillar within the health care system, and is delivered primarily to ambulatory patients. The primary care (personal) physician may be a general practitioner/family physician, a pediatrician (for children and adolescents) or a general internist (for adults). Normal obstetrical and ambulatory gynecologic care may or may not be considered part of primary care.