The Journal of family practice
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Numerous factors have been hypothesized to explain the steady decline of family physicians providing maternity care. Rather than exploring reasons for departure, we sought to learn why many family physicians choose to deliver babies. ⋯ Family physicians who deliver babies appear to be primarily motivated by personal enjoyment, followed by a desire to care for younger patients and adequate training in residency. Those who do not perform deliveries primarily cite the unacceptability of a maternity caregiver's lifestyle. The expectation of the practice and a lack of community need are also important influences on the decision of family physicians to deliver babies.
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Comparative Study
Teaching medical students in community-based practices: a national survey of generalist physicians.
This study was undertaken to determine the extent of medical student teaching by community-based generalists, differences between teachers and nonteachers, and physicians' perceptions and attitudes about teaching. ⋯ Depending on specialty, 20% to 30% of community-based generalists teach medical students. Although teachers perceive that teaching lengthens their work day and may decrease productivity, the great majority of both teachers and nonteachers believe that community-based education is important.
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Comparative Study
Missed opportunities for prevention: smoking cessation counseling and the competing demands of practice.
Smoking cessation advice is an effective intervention for the control of tobacco use. The objective of this study was to assess and describe the rates of smoking status assessment and smoking cessation advice provided by physicians during ambulatory office visits with respect to physician specialty, type of visit, and number of problems addressed at the visit. ⋯ Although a substantial majority of smokers are reportedly identified by physicians during ambulatory visits, a large number of identified smokers are not receiving smoking cessation counseling. Patients seen by generalists are more likely to receive smoking cessation advice. Physicians appear to prioritize smoking cessation advice based on diagnosis at the time of the visit.