Sample Of Family Physicians Research Articles

Evaluation of a Direct Mailing Campaign to Increase Physician Awareness and Utilization of a Quitline Fax Referral Service

Research has shown that fax referral services play an important role in linking people who are ready to quit tobacco use with effective cessation support provided through telephone-based quitlines. While many states have implemented fax referral services to assist health care providers in connecting their patients to quitlines, few published studies delineate optimum ways to promote this service to providers, particularly the role of direct mail educational campaigns. This is one of the first studies to evaluate the effectiveness of a small-scale educational and promotional campaign designed to increase health care providers’ awareness and utilization of a state tobacco cessation quitline fax referral service. The campaign included a direct mailing to 6,197 health care providers in North Carolina. The mailing consisted of a large tube, in the shape of cigarette, with enclosed fax referral promotional materials. An 8-month follow-up survey was mailed to a 10% random sample of family physicians, pediatricians, dentists, and orthodontists who were sent the promotional tube mailing. Valid surveys were returned by 271 providers (response rate = 46%). Forty-four percent of respondents remembered receiving the tube mailing, and 40% reported familiarity with the fax referral service. While only 3.5% of respondents reported referring a patient to the quitline using the fax referral service in the previous 6 months, almost one-third reported an intention to use the fax referral service in the future. The pilot promotional campaign increased awareness of the fax referral service more than service utilization. While increased utilization of the service by health care providers appears promising, additional research is needed on how to maximize educational and promotional campaigns that influence clinician fax referral behaviors. The results of this study can help guide the development of future fax referral promotional campaigns to increase clinician access to and utilization of state quitlines.

Do maternity care provider groups have different attitudes towards birth?

To compare family physicians', obstetricians' and midwives' self-reported practices, attitudes and beliefs about central issues in childbirth. Mail-out questionnaire. SETTING/POPULATION; All registered midwives in the province, and a sample of family physicians and obstetricians in a maternity care teaching hospital. Response rates: 91% (n = 50), 69% (n = 97) and 89% (n = 34), respectively. A postal survey. Twenty-three five-point Likert scale items (strongly agree to strongly disagree) addressing attitudes toward routine electronic fetal monitoring, induction of labour, epidural analgesia, episiotomy, doulas, vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBACs), birth centres, provision educational material, birth plans and caesarean section. Cluster analysis identified three distinct clusters based on similar response to the questions. The 'MW' cluster consisted of 100% of midwives and 26% of the family physicians. The 'OB' cluster was composed of 79% of the obstetricians and 16% of the family physicians. The 'FP' cluster was composed of 58% the family physicians and 21% the obstetricians. Members of the 'OB' cluster more strongly believed that women had the right to request a caesarean section without maternal/fetal indications (P < 0.001), that epidurals early in labour were not associated with development of fetal malpositions (P < 0.001) and that increasing caesarean rates were a sign of improvement in obstetrics (P < 0.001). The 'OB' cluster members were more likely to say they would induce women as soon as possible after 41 3/7 weeks of gestation (P < 0.001) and were least likely to encourage the use of birth plans (P < 0.001). The 'MW' cluster's views were the opposite of the 'OBs' while the 'FP' cluster's views fell between the 'MW' and 'OB' clusters. In our environment, obstetricians were the most attached to technology and interventions including caesarean section and inductions, midwives the least, while family physicians fell in the middle. While generalisations can be problematic, obstetricians and midwives generally follow a defined and different approach to maternity care. Family physicians are heterogeneous, sometimes practising more like midwives and sometimes more like obstetricians.

Family physicians' knowledge of risk factors for cervical cancer.

A woman's risk for cervical cancer has been used by physicians to guide the initiation and frequency of a Pap smear. The aim of this study was to determine family physicians' knowledge of risk factors for cervical cancer and perceived importance of risk in screening women. The self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 5000 randomly selected active members of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Data from 2748 usable questionnaires indicated the mean number of risks considered for cervical cancer was 4.5. Physician's age and the number of reported risks were inversely correlated (p = 0.0001). Female physicians reported significantly more risk factors than male physicians (p = 0.05). The number of Pap smears performed per month was positively correlated with the number of risk factors reported (p = 0.001). Only 10% of the physicians indicated that they perform a Pap smear at the same interval regardless of the risk of the woman. This sample of family physicians has a limited understanding of the risk factors for cervical cancer. This was true regardless of the age, gender, training, race, geographic location, or practice setting of the responding physician. Yet the usual practice of screening for cervical cancer reported by these physicians would suggest that knowledge and use of risk factors would be a critical aspect of screening for cervical cancer.

Factors influencing family physician adherence to hypertension treatment guideline recommendations on the initiation of pharmacotherapy: questionnaire survey.

Family physicians do not prescribe antihypertensive medication according to current guidelines. This study investigates possible reasons for this. The objectives were to measure the knowledge, attitude and stated practice of family physicians to the initiation of pharmacotherapy for uncomplicated hypertension and to explore the reasons why clinical practice differs from guideline recommendations. A cross-sectional postal survey conducted between June and October 1999. Simple frequency analysis and a chi(2) test comparing family physician characteristics and responses. A three-phase postal survey was undertaken of a random sample of family physicians. Telephone and facsimile contact was made to non-responders. The survey instrument included respondent characteristics, preference for initiation of antihypertensive drug therapy and their opinion of efficacy, adverse effects and long-term safety, as well as knowledge of guidelines. Family physicians in the state of Victoria, Australia. Ranked preference of drugs for uncomplicated hypertension. Opinion of drug efficacy, adverse effects, safety and cost. Knowledge of guidelines for first-line antihypertensive drugs. Newer agents are preferred to older agents in the initiation of antihypertensive drug therapy contrary to current guideline recommendations. Newer agents were thought to be more efficacious, have better short- and long-term adverse effect profiles and be more expensive than older agents. Younger doctors most often held these attitudes. Guidelines influenced decision making but were not the most important factor. There is a demonstrable need for governments to invest in the promotion of accurate information on drugs through continuing education of prescribers and facilitating the production of standardized paper and web-based clinical guidelines. A program of targeted investment in clinical trials that examine the justification for more expensive classes of agents should also be considered in appropriate circumstances.

Attitudes of osteopathic physicians toward physician-assisted suicide.

The use of physician-assisted suicide (PAS) in the care of terminally ill patients is controversial. While there are published surveys assessing the attitudes and views of physicians in certain specialties, both nationally and in targeted geographic areas, no such data are available specifically pertaining to osteopathic physicians, who deliver 9% of the primary care in the United States. This article describes a study whose purpose was to identify the views and perspectives of osteopathic physicians on PAS through a national survey. Questionnaires were forwarded to all board-certified internists who are members of the American College of Osteopathic Internists and all surgeons and a random sample of family physicians who are members of the American Osteopathic Association. Physicians were surveyed with initial and follow-up mailings. The 49-item questionnaire was a modified version of the Physician Survey, Center for Ethics in Health Care: Oregon Health Sciences University. Of the 2910 questionnaires that were mailed, 1028 were returned in a usable form, for a 35% response rate. Respondents were predominantly (81%) male and from all parts of the country. Most (58%) would not be willing to prescribe a medication for a competent, terminally ill patient to use with the primary intention of ending his or her own life, and most (55%) would oppose the legalization of PAS. Thirty-three percent of osteopathic physicians admit to receiving requests by terminally ill patients for PAS. Most (53%) osteopathic physicians indicate that the osteopathic principle of holistic care has influenced their decision-making on this issue, and a significant minority (44%) responded that the osteopathic oath influenced their view on PAS. Religion and the degree of prayer frequency were important predictors of the decisions to support or oppose PAS. When compared to other physician surveys, this survey of osteopathic physicians demonstrates some similarities in response but also significant differences. These data suggest that osteopathic education and training may result in a perspective on PAS that reflects the distinctiveness of the osteopathic profession.

Perspectives on Teaching Among Community-Based Family Physicians

Background: Clinical education increasingly occurs in ambulatory and primary-care practices. Physicians face increased demands for clinical productivity. Purpose: To explore whether community-based family physicians' perceptions of problems in primary-care practice affect their attitudes toward teaching. Methods: Using the national databases of the American Academy of Family Physicians, we identified a sample of family physicians who teach but are not based at academic health centers. These 80 family physicians were surveyed by telephone about their careers and their teaching. Results: The response rate was 61%. Respondents identified several problematic aspects of medical practice that may have a negative impact on teaching: administrative demands, decreasing autonomy, diminished control over conditions of practice, concern about future income, and increased productivity demands. Over three fourths of the respondents (77.5%) were concerned that increasing the amount of teaching they do would decrease their incomes. Nonetheless, they reported spending a significant proportion of their time teaching (7.4%). Only 6.3% of the respondents felt that teaching is more a burden than a pleasure; 46.3% felt that teaching is more a pleasure than a burden; and 47.5% felt that it is a balance between the two. There were no significant relations between the degree to which the different aspects of medical practice were perceived to be problems and the percentage of time spent teaching, the perception of teaching as a burden, or concern that increased teaching would decrease income. Conclusions: Despite widespread concern among these practitioners about problems of practice and that more time spent teaching may threaten income, they continue to express pleasure in teaching.

Evaluation of a cold/flu self-care public education campaign.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate an Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH) cold/flu self-care public education campaign to reduce unnecessary patient visits to doctors. The MOH campaign consisted of an information booklet delivered to every household in an Ontario city, newspaper ads and radio spots. The program ran during January-March 1994. The evaluation consisted of: (1) 2x2 telephone survey in London (experimental area) and Windsor (comparison area), before and during the campaign; and (2) a telephone survey of London family practitioners during the campaign. In addition, data on the incidence of cold/flu visits to three hospital emergency departments and a sample of family physicians' offices were gathered. The data suggest that program rationale may have been questionable because the majority of the surveyed public were knowledgeable and self-reported appropriate doctor visits for cold/flu. Campaign evaluation showed limited impact. Message penetration was low; only one-third of London residents knew of the campaign or read the booklet. Only two of 10 questions showed increases in knowledge in London and no changes were found for beliefs, attitudes, acquisition of new health practices or self-reported visits to the doctor. The physician survey, emergency room and family physician office visit data were consistent with the public survey findings.

Vaccination généralisée contre l'hépatite B en Suisse: Qu'en pensent les médecins vaccinateurs?

Enquete par questionnaire: Les medecins vaccinateurs indiquent que Les medecins exercant la medecine scolaire jugent que la vaccination, en milieu scolaire, des adolescents serait faisable mais soul⪻verait des problemes logistiques.

An assessment of practice support and continuing medical education needs of rural Pennsylvania family physicians.

Family physicians provide the greatest proportion of care in rural communities. Yet, the number of physicians choosing family practice and rural practice has continued to decline. Undesirable aspects of rural practice, such as professional isolation and a lack of or inadequate resources, are assumed to be associated with this decline. This article reports on the practice support and continuing medical education needs of rural family physicians. A mail survey was conducted in 1993 on a purposive sample of family physicians in 39 of 67 rural-designated or urban Pennsylvania counties with low population densities. The physicians identified needs that included patient education materials and programs, community health promotion, federal regulation updates, technical assistance with computers and business management, database software and a videotape lending library, a drug hotline, and mini-fellowships on clinical skill development. A majority of respondents were willing to participate in clinical educational experiences for students and residents. Some physicians indicated a lack of interest in access to information through telecommunications, e.g., video conference referrals and consultations. Overall, findings revealed that family physicians need and are receptive to a variety of practice support and continuing education programs. A practice support program coupled with policy coordination among public and private organizations is likely to lessen complaints by rural primary care physicians.

Continuing occurrence of eosinophilia myalgia syndrome in Canada.

Eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS), was defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as eosinophilia > 1000 mm3 and incapacitating myalgia without infection or neoplasm. Studies suggested that use of L-tryptophan (L-T), was a risk factor. We conducted a pharmacoepidemiological survey in Canada where access to L-T is limited. Using the active surveillance method, a 100% sample of potentially involved specialists and a 15% sample of family physicians from Ontario and Quebec were surveyed regarding treatment of patients with severe myalgia within the past year. Follow-up amplified clinical and laboratory information. Overall response rates were 61.4%. Thirty-eight per cent of respondents reported at least one patient. Of 6423 patients assessed, 19 'definite' and 25 'possible' EMS cases were identified. Information from physicians did not suggest use of L-T in patients with definite or possible EMS. It was considered that the cases found an underestimate of the incidence of EMS. Its continuing occurrence in Canada brings causal interpretations of earlier studies into question.

Family Physicians' Management of Cancer Pain: A Pharmacoepidemiologic Study

The results of a descriptive study of compliance with published protocols for cancer pain management prescribing by a random sample of family physicians in The Netherlands are presented. One hundred and ninety-four physicians provided their pain treatment recommendations for a simulated “paper” patient with cancer pain who required additional analgesia. The paper patient technique was chosen to study interdoctor variations under the same conditions. Treatments which the physicians recommended were compared with the protocols published in the Dutch compendium of health insurance funds and the governmental drug bulletin. Only a minority of the responding family physicians followed the protocol recommendations to prescribe a weak opioid analgesic as a second step when acetaminophen (paracetamol) was no longer effective. Almost one-quarter of the physicians prescribed pentazocine which is not recommended in the protocol because it can provoke problems in the next step of pain management and has potentially pr...