Primary care
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The role of humor in medicine is becoming increasingly apparent. Humor helps individuals narrow interpersonal and cultural gaps, communicate difficult messages, express frustration and anger, and cope with anxiety. Primary care providers need to be able to interpret humor used by patients and can learn to use humor to create a healing environment. This article reviews the roles played by humor in the doctor-patient relationship and provides a brief guide to using one's sense of humor to improve and enrich patient care.
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Cost-effectiveness and cost containment are becoming increasingly more important in medicine as health care costs continue to rise and as public attention continues to focus on these costs. This article examines the major issues and terminology of cost-effectiveness and cost containment in the context of primary care. A review of basic terminology and a quick reference glossary are included; relevant literature is reviewed. The goal of this article is to provide a beginning step for physicians to become more knowledgeable and enthusiastic participants in cost-effectiveness and cost-containment efforts.