Annals of family medicine
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Annals of family medicine · May 2004
Referral of patients to specialists: factors affecting choice of specialist by primary care physicians.
We wanted to determine the importance of factors in primary care physicians' choice of specialist when referring patients and to compare importance ratings by physicians' race and sex. ⋯ Primary care physicians serving adults consider several factors to be of major importance when choosing a specialist. The importance of patient convenience, previous experience with the specialist, specialist board certification, and insurance coverage accepted by specialist varied by physicians' race and sex. A better understanding of factors important to a diverse physician workforce may help to improve the referral process.
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Annals of family medicine · Mar 2004
The Future of Family Medicine: a collaborative project of the family medicine community.
Recognizing fundamental flaws in the fragmented US health care systems and the potential of an integrative, generalist approach, the leadership of 7 national family medicine organizations initiated the Future of Family Medicine (FFM) project in 2002. The goal of the project was to develop a strategy to transform and renew the discipline of family medicine to meet the needs of patients in a changing health care environment. ⋯ The leadership of US family medicine organizations is committed to a transformative process. In partnership with others, this process has the potential to integrate health care to improve the health of all Americans.
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Annals of family medicine · Mar 2004
Practice Guideline GuidelineScreening for family and intimate partner violence: recommendation statement.
This statement summarizes the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening for family and intimate partner violence based on the USPSTF's examination of evidence specific to family and intimate partner violence. ⋯ S. Preventive Services Task Force." The USPSTF recommendations, the accompanying summary article, and complete Systematic Evidence Review are available through the USPSTF web site (http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov). The summary article and the USPSTF recommendation statement are available in print through the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse (call 1-800-358-9295 or e-mail ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov).
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Annals of family medicine · Mar 2004
A community-oriented primary care demonstration project: refining interventions for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
We describe a community-oriented primary care project that implemented all 5 steps of the formal model. Data are presented on cardiac risk factors, protective behaviors, health locus of control, and stage of readiness for change in an African American community. We discuss the use of these data to refine our health promotion interventions. ⋯ This study documents low rates of physical activity and healthy dietary patterns and describes recent interventions to address environmental barriers to behavior change. The association between powerful others locus of control and specific cardiac risk factors has prompted a greater emphasis on developing faith-based interventions and renewing physician-counseling efforts. Stage of readiness for change findings have prompted strategies to disseminate existing diet and physical activity recommendations more effectively.