The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice / American Board of Family Practice
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J Am Board Fam Pract · Jan 2002
ReviewPhysician-patient communication in the primary care office: a systematic review.
The physician-patient interview is the key component of all health care, particularly of primary medical care. This review sought to evaluate existing primary-care-based research studies to determine which verbal and nonverbal behaviors on the part of the physician during the medical encounter have been linked in empirical studies with favorable patient outcomes. ⋯ Existing research is limited because of lack of consensus of what to measure, conflicting findings, and relative lack of empirical studies (especially of nonverbal behavior). Nonetheless, medical educators should focus on teaching and reinforcing behaviors known to be facilitative, and to continue to understand further how physician behavior can enhance favorable patient outcomes, such as understanding and adherence to medical regimens and overall satisfaction.
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J Am Board Fam Pract · Jan 2002
Obstetric care in family practice residencies: a 5-year follow-up survey.
The percentage of family physicians delivering babies decreased from 46% in 1978 to 32% in 1992. Some family practice leaders predicted that, by the turn of the century, training for family practice obstetrics would focus primarily on those planning to work in remote or rural settings. A 1993 study found three primary factors associated with an increased incidence of future maternity care. In 1997 the Residency Review Commission (RRC) stipulated that all family practice residencies have at least 1 family physician serve as an intrapartum attending physician for family practice resident deliveries. ⋯ This study shows that, according to their program directors' estimates, more family practice residents are including obstetrics in their first practice after residency compared with 5 years ago. The new RRC regulation was associated with more than 50% of previously noncompliant programs adding or retraining faculty who could attend resident deliveries within 12 months of the inception of the new policy.