Annals of family medicine
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Annals of family medicine · Jul 2005
Putting it together: finding success in behavior change through integration of services.
The purpose of this analysis and commentary was to explore the rationale for an integrated approach, within and outside the office, to help patients pursue healthy behaviors. ⋯ Blending diverse clinical and community services into a cohesive system requires an infrastructure that fosters integration. Such a system provides the comprehensive model on which the quality of both health promotion and chronic illness care depend. Integrating clinical and community services is only the first step toward the ideal of a citizen-centered approach, in which diverse sectors within the community-health care among them-work together to help citizens sustain healthy behaviors. The integration required to fulfill this ideal faces logistical challenges but may be the best way for a fragmented health care system to fully serve its patients.
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Annals of family medicine · Jul 2005
Stories from frequent attenders: a qualitative study in primary care.
Patients who make frequent office visits (frequent attenders) in primary care are often considered a major burden on resources, yet we know little about their perceptions and expectations. We wanted to explore how these patients viewed their rates of consultation, what they expected from the consultation, and how they perceived their relationship with the primary health care team. ⋯ The criteria held by family doctors and researchers regarding the appropriate rate of consultations in primary care may not be shared by patients who attend frequently. Such patients require family doctors to acknowledge their symptoms and to provide reassurance.
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Annals of family medicine · Jul 2005
Biography Historical ArticleDietrich receives Curtis G. Hames Research Award, call for new model papers.