Journal of general internal medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Recruiting ethnically diverse general internal medicine patients for a telephone survey on physician-patient communication.
Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of recruitment methods among diverse populations. ⋯ Household contact and individual response rates differed by ethnic-language group, highlighting the importance of tracking losses by stage and subpopulation. Careful attention to recruitment yielded acceptable response rates among all groups.
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While the majority of adults are attempting weight loss at any given time, few engage in optimal diet and exercise. We examined factors associated with being in advanced stages of behavior change for weight loss, diet, and exercise. ⋯ A large proportion of primary care patients are at advanced stages of readiness to lose weight, improve diet, and increase exercise. Future studies should examine the effectiveness of primary care interventions to help patients optimize weight-related behavior.
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To examine whether access to care factors account for racial/ethnic disparities in influenza vaccination among elderly adults in the United States. ⋯ This study confirmed the existence of sizable racial/ethnic differences in influenza vaccination among elderly adults. These disparities were only partially explained by differences in indicators of access to care, especially among non-Hispanic blacks for whom large disparities remained. Factors not available in the National Health Interview Survey, such as patient attitudes and provider performance, should be investigated as possible explanations for the racial/ethnic disparity in influenza vaccination among non-Hispanic blacks.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Functional status and patient satisfaction: a comparison of ischemic heart disease, obstructive lung disease, and diabetes mellitus.
To determine the extent to which chronic illness and disease severity affect patient satisfaction with their primary care provider in general internal medicine clinics. ⋯ Patient education and ability to cope with chronic conditions are more strongly associated with satisfaction with their primary care provider than disease severity. Further improvements in patient education and self-management may lead to improved satisfaction and quality of care.