Journal of general internal medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Influence of patient race on physician prescribing decisions: a randomized on-line experiment.
Prior research reports black patients have lower medication use for hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes. ⋯ Racial differences in outpatient prescribing patterns for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes are likely attributable to factors other than prescribing decisions based on patient race.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Diabetes awareness and knowledge among Latinos: does a usual source of healthcare matter?
To provide national prevalence estimates of usual source of healthcare (USHC), and examine the relationship between USHC and diabetes awareness and knowledge among Latinos using a modified Andersen model of healthcare access. ⋯ We found important and previously unreported differences between Latinos with a current USHC provider, where the predominant group, Mexican Americans, are the least likely to have access to a USHC. USHC was associated with Latinos being better informed about diabetes; however, socioeconomic barriers limit the availability of this potentially valuable tool for reducing the risks and burden of diabetes, which is a major public health problem facing Latinos.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Electronic versus dictated hospital discharge summaries: a randomized controlled trial.
Patient care transitions are periods of enhanced risk. Discharge summaries have been used to communicate essential information between hospital-based physicians and primary care physicians (PCPs), and may reduce rates of adverse events after discharge. ⋯ An EDS program can be used by housestaff to more easily create hospital discharge summaries, and there was no difference in PCP satisfaction.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Adequacy of hospital discharge summaries in documenting tests with pending results and outpatient follow-up providers.
Poor communication of tests whose results are pending at hospital discharge can lead to medical errors. ⋯ Discharge summaries are grossly inadequate at documenting both tests with pending results and the appropriate follow-up providers.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
The effect of patient race and blood pressure control on patient-physician communication.
Racial disparities in hypertension control contribute to higher rates of cardiovascular mortality among blacks. Patient-physician communication quality is associated with better health outcomes, including blood pressure (BP) control. Both race/ethnicity and BP control may adversely affect communication. ⋯ This study reveals that patient race is associated with the quality of patient-physician communication to a greater extent than BP control. Interventions that improve patient-physician communication should be tested as a strategy to reduce racial disparities in hypertension care and outcomes.