The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
-
An attempt has been made to evaluate the evidence for the likely benefit or otherwise, of the obligatory three-yearly checks as defined within the terms of service for doctors in general practice introduced to British general practitioners in April 1990. The content, interval, age groups, ethics, organizational cost, yield and outcome of the three-yearly checks are examined. No particular evidence is apparent which should deflect general practice from its present opportunistic approach to screening, and the already established national screening programmes.
-
The relative importance of sex and ethnicity in patients' choice of doctor is not known. A total of 1633 consultations at a health centre in Bradford, with a mixed ethnic list, were examined over a four week period to test the relative importance of these variables. ⋯ Asian patients, irrespective of sex, were significantly (P less than 0.001) more likely to consult the Asian doctor then either of the other two doctors, though a greater proportion of Asian women than men consulted the female white doctor. Although the sex of the doctor was important in patients' choice, for Asian patients the doctor's culture and language were more important.