Physician-patient encounters: the structure of performance in family and general office practice

INTRODUCTION: The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the regulatory authority for physicians in Ontario, Canada, conducts peer assessments of physicians' practices as part of a broad quality assurance program. Outcomes are summarized as a single score and there is no differentiation between performance in various aspects of care. In this study we test the hypothesis that physician performance is multidimensional and that dimensions can be defined in terms of physician-patient encounters. METHODS: Peer assessment data from 532 randomly selected family practitioners were analyzed using factor analysis to assess the dimensional structure of performance. Content validity was confirmed through consultation sessions with 130 physicians. Multiple-item measures were constructed for each dimension and reliability calculated. Analysis of variance determined the extent to which multiple-item measure scores would vary across peer assessment outcomes. RESULTS: Six performance dimensions were confirmed: acute care, chronic conditions, continuity of care and referrals, well care and health maintenance, psychosocial care, and patient records. DISCUSSION: Physician performance is multidimensional, including types of physician-patient encounters and variation across dimensions, as demonstrated by individual practice. A conceptual framework for multidimensional performance may inform the design of meaningful evaluation and educational recommendations to meet the individual performance of practicing physicians.     

Effectiveness of an enhanced peer assessment program: introducing education into regulatory assessment

INTRODUCTION: The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario developed an enhanced peer assessment (EPA), the goal of which was to provide participating physicians educational value by helping them identify specific learning needs and aligning the assessment process with the principles of continuing education and professional development. In this article, we examine the educational value of the EPA and whether physicians will change their practice as a result of the recommendations received during the assessment. METHODS: A group of 41 randomly selected physicians (23 general or family practitioners, 7 obstetrician-gynecologists, and 11 general surgeons) agreed to participate in the EPA pilot. Nine experienced peer assessors were trained in the principles of knowledge translation and the use of practice resources (tool kits) and clinical practice guidelines. The EPA was evaluated through the use of a postassessment questionnaire and focus groups. RESULTS: The physicians felt that the EPA was fair and educationally valuable. Most focus group participants indicated that they implemented recommendations made by the assessor and made changes to some aspect of their practice. The physicians' suggestions for improvement included expanding the assessment beyond the current medical record review and interview format (eg, to include multisource feedback), having assessments occur at regular intervals (eg, every 5 to 10 years), and improving the administrative process by which physicians apply for educational credit for EPA activities. CONCLUSIONS: The EPA pilot study has demonstrated that providing detailed individualized feedback and optimizing the one-to-one interaction between assessors and physicians is a promising method for changing physician behavior. The college has started the process of aligning all its peer assessments with the principles of continuing professional development outlined in the EPA model.     

美沙酮维持治疗依从性与社会支持相关性分析

目的了解美沙酮维持治疗依从性与社会支持的关系,为建立提高美沙酮维持治疗依从性的社会支持系统提供科学依据。方法采用Morisky服药依从性问卷和肖水源社会支持评定量表（SSRS）,调查分析美沙酮维持治疗依从性与社会支持的关系。结果246例受治者中,27．64％有忘记服药的经历,2．85％不重视服药,24．80％自觉症状改善后停药,12．60％出现副作用后停药,53．66％的受治者在治疗期间偶尔间断或经常间断服药;不同美沙酮维持治疗依从性对象的社会支持得分比较,是否忘记服药、美沙酮治疗间断情形之间的主观支持得分和社会支持总分差异有统计学意义（P〈O．05）。结论美沙酮维持治疗者的依从性较差;良好的社会支持特别是主观社会支持可提高美沙酮受治者依从性。     

心理咨询干预对提高美沙酮维持治疗者合适剂量和治疗依从性效果的研究

目的 探讨心理咨询干预措施对提高参加美沙酮维持治疗(MMT)者的美沙酮治疗剂量以降低尿吗啡检测阳性率、减少毒品使用和增加治疗依从性的效果。方法 在16个社区MMT门诊招募近12周尿吗啡检测至少有1次阳性记录的治疗人员, 由医务人员进行每2周1次、同伴教育员每1周1次的心理咨询干预, 干预时间12周, 记录研究对象干预前和干预期12周内尿吗啡检测、日均服用美沙酮剂量和服药天数, 比较干预前和干预期间的变化。结果 共对492名研究对象实施了干预, 3项指标均有明显的变化: 尿吗啡检测阳性率从干预前的50.1%下降低到干预期间的27.1%, 平均日服用美沙酮剂量从干预前1周的63.0 mg增加到72.6 mg, 12周内服用美沙酮的天数从干预前的人均69.4 d增加到干预期间的人均73.9 d。 结论 强化咨询干预措施对于减少参加MMT海洛因成瘾者治疗期间偷吸毒品, 增加其服用美沙酮剂量, 提高治疗依从性有良好的效果。     

乌鲁木齐市吸毒者社区美沙酮维持治疗保持情况及其影响因素分析

目的初步了解乌鲁木齐市吸毒者社区美沙酮维持治疗的保持情况及其影响因素。方法在新疆维吾尔自治区精神卫生中心社区美沙酮维持治疗门诊点,调查参加维持治疗的吸毒者的社会人口学和本底吸毒行为,以及美沙酮维持治疗情况。结果截至2006年2月10日,接受美沙酮维持治疗的709名吸毒者进入美沙酮维持治疗的时间中位数为77 d,有353人退出治疗。服用首剂美沙酮后达90 d和180 d的累积脱失率分别为73.8%(336/455)和99.4%(353/355)。美沙酮维持治疗脱失发生率为29.8/100人月,在美沙酮维持治疗项目中保持时间的中位数为68.0 d(95%CI 59.0～78.0)。在多因素Cox比例风险回归模型分析中,维吾尔族(HR值为1.35;95%CI:1.09～1.67)、吸毒年限长(HR　值为0.74;95%CI:0.55～0.99)和稳定剂量高(HR值为0.60;95%CI:0.48～0.74)与美沙酮维持治疗脱失的关系有统计学意义。结论调查结果提示乌鲁木齐市吸毒者社区美沙酮维持治疗保持率低。需要对吸毒者尤其是维吾尔族吸毒者加强心理辅导和根据个体情况适当调高美沙酮剂量来提高该人群美沙酮维持治疗的依从性。     

Improving blood pressure control in diabetes: limitations of a clinical reminder in influencing physician behavior

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension should be aggressively treated, especially in diabetic patients. But studies of physician prescribing habits reveal that physicians often delay making medication changes or initiating antihypertensive therapy. A chart-based reminder was designed to improve physician medication prescribing in this clinical situation. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. Patients with diabetes and hypertension were selected. A highly visible chart reminder was applied to the front of outpatient charts in the intervention group practice. A chart review was conducted to assess physician-directed medication changes. A successful outcome was defined as any antihypertensive medication increase or addition at that same visit. RESULTS: Physicians were more likely to intensify antihypertensive medication as the blood pressure increased regardless of the reminder. Overall, only 33% of visits resulted in a medication change, even though 93% of patients had elevations over target blood pressure at the follow-up visit. Physicians in the intervention and control groups made changes to medication at similar rates (chi 2 = 0.621, p = .511). DISCUSSION: In this study, a chart reminder failed to improve physician compliance with the clinical guideline for hypertension management in diabetics, Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on the Detection, Evaluation, Prevention and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. To inform the design of effective intervention strategies, further research should explore specific barriers to guideline adherence in this clinical situation.     

HCV prevalence in methadone maintenance: self-report versus serum test

OBJECTIVES: To assess hepatitis C virus (HCV) serostatus, risk factors, and desire for education about HCV among methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients. METHODS: We surveyed 200 MMT patients and reviewed charts for 276 patients. RESULTS: The self-report HCV seroprevalence was 34%, adjusted to 52%. The chart review HCV seroprevalence was 70%. Most participants had risk factors for contracting or spreading HCV. CONCLUSIONS: There is discrepancy in HCV seroprevalence by self-report versus serum test results among MMT patients. Some HCV+ MMT patients engage in high-risk behaviors for HCV transmission and may not disclose HCV+ status. MMT patients want HCV education.     

Practice patterns of rural family physicians based on the American Diabetes Association standards of care

The purpose of this study was to examine practice patterns of rural family physicians in the care of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus based on the standards of care of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). One hundred patient charts were randomly chosen, twenty for each physician, from the practices of five family physicians in rural Ohio. A standardized collection protocol was used, based upon the ADA recommendations. The charts were reviewed for compliance with the ADA parameters. The patients' records demonstrated 66% compliance with dietary counseling and 33% with counseling about exercise. Moreover, there was low compliance with physical examination guidelines. Specifically, 66% of the patients had fundoscopic examination and 64% had a complete foot examination done. With respect to the laboratory guidelines, 70% of the charts reviewed had a urinalysis ordered and 45% annual lipids measured. However, glycosylated hemoglobin was performed in only 15% of the patients. The results suggest that rural family physicians do not consistently follow the ADA standards of care.     

An overview of illegal opioid use and health services utilization in Canada

OBJECTIVES: Systematic research on health and treatment services availability for and utilization by illegal opioid users in Canada are very limited. Comparative data across provinces and territories is almost entirely absent. This study was designed to provide an overview of illegal opioid use and health services utilization among illegal opioid users across Canada. METHODS: A combination of statistical data and key informant data was used. Surveys were sent to key informants in all provinces and territories of Canada. Survey questions covered the number of illegal opioid users in each province, the number of opioid users receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), the number of physicians authorized to prescribe methadone, and the number of opioid users receiving other outpatient and inpatient treatment. In addition, relevant data were collected from several statistical sources, both provincial and federal. The number of substance-use-related overdose deaths was obtained from the provincial coroners' offices. RESULTS: It is estimated that there were more than 80,000 regular illegal opioid users in Canada in 2003. The most prevalent treatment utilized was MMT; about one-quarter (26%) of the estimated opioid users received this type of treatment in 2003. Other forms of outpatient and inpatient treatment were of only minor importance compared with MMT. The number of illegal drug-related overdose deaths in Canada was 958 in 2002. Rates of drug use, health services utilization and overdose deaths showed considerable variation by province. CONCLUSIONS: Although the opioid use treatment system in Canada has expanded in recent years, especially with respect to the availability of MMT, the treatment utilization rates are still lower than in most countries in Western Europe. Rates of current treatment utilization as well as the relatively high number of overdose deaths suggest that there is still room for improvement in the Canadian health and social care system with respect to opioid use.     

Educational interventions to improve practice of nonspecialty physicians who are identified in need by peer review

This article reports on the peer review process of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the licensing and regulatory authority, and the effect of educational interventions on physicians identified to be in need. Since 1980, the college has assessed more than 175 random and targeted nonspecialist physicians each year. A structured remediation process has been employed for those in need. Extensive data files have been maintained by the college. A majority of physicians identified as needing improvement improved and maintained their improved performance. The simple structured interventions employed by the college demonstrate an educational intervention that produces practice improvement.     

Improving physician compliance with a health maintenance protocol

A two-year prospective study was conducted to determine whether specific educational, organizational, and behavior reinforcing interventions could improve physician performance of selected health maintenance procedures in the private practice setting. The procedures studied included history of tobacco use, blood pressure determination, history of alcohol use, fecal occult blood testing for colon cancer, Pap smears, and physician breast examinations. Overall compliance with these procedures improved from 58 percent to 72 percent. There were marked differences in compliance among the procedures, ranging from 99 percent of patients having their blood pressure recorded to 51 percent having a fecal occult blood screening for colon cancer. Compliance with use of a screening flow sheet was much less than compliance with specific procedures. The screening flow sheet was completed on only 29 percent of patients' charts.     

Acceptance and self-reported use of national occupational medicine practice guidelines

The authors conducted a survey to ascertain post-training attitudes and self-reported use of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine occupational medicine practice guidelines. Trainees were surveyed 3 to 4 months after completing a case-based practice ACOEM occupational practice guidelines seminar. Of 96 physician respondents, 95% reported that the guidelines improved their practice in some manner. Fifty-two percent of physicians thought that guideline use decreased medical costs. Seventy-one percent reported that their care complied with the guidelines in 70% or more of their cases; however, "actually considering the guidelines in particular cases" was reported by only 47%. Discussion of cases was frequent (92%) and involved physicians, patients, and other health care providers. We concluded that physicians' attitudes toward the guidelines are positive and that reported compliance is high. Guidelines are discussed frequently.     

Defining the utility of clinically acceptable variations in evidence-based practice guidelines for evaluation of quality improvement activities

This study examines the utility of systematically accounting for acceptable physician variations in guideline application. The results argue against assuming that even seemingly noncontentious guideline protocol offer a threshold of variation similar to conventional Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) assessment standards. Findings also suggest that health service organizations can derive greater benefits from expending the resources necessary to standardize guidelines if compliance with both the medical review criteria, and the guidelines as originally constructed, is monitored as part of the evaluation activity.     

Cohort, gender and practice organization: examining the bounds of collaborative medicine among newly established female and male family physicians in Ontario.

This paper analyzes data from a 1993 survey of 395 newly established female and male family physicians in Ontario, Canada, to examine the relationship between practice organization and gender. Previous research suggests that younger physicians, particularly women, tend to enter group practice. Compared to solo practice, groups may offer more predictable incomes, more manageable workloads, peer collaboration and review, and economies of scale. Further, female physicians in groups may develop distinctive styles of collaborative medicine. The results show that a majority of physicians in our cohort are in private community-based group practice. However, while many groups share premises, staff and expenses, and many have common charts and practice guidelines, only a minority incorporate regular meetings to discuss business or patient care, have shared care of hospitalized patients, or audits of physicians' practices. Few gender differences are observed in private group practice: although women physicians attract larger proportions of female patients than do their male colleagues, women and men organize their groups in similar ways and have similarity strong patient-centered attitudes.     

吸毒者美沙酮维持治疗保持时间及影响因素

目的 了解江苏省吸毒者美沙酮维持治疗 (MMT)保持时间及其影响因素.方法 在江苏省美沙酮社区药物维持治疗门诊点,调查参加维持治疗的吸毒者的社会人口学和吸毒行为,用生存分析方法分析维持治疗时间及其影响因素.结果 2006年美沙酮维持治疗的1358名吸毒者维持治疗时间中位数为603d,590人退出治疗;吸毒者1年和2年的维持概率分别为72.81%和52.76%.多因素Cox比例风险回归模型分析,性别、婚姻状况、首次吸毒年龄和美沙酮维持剂量对美沙酮维持治疗保持时间有显著影响.结论 江苏省吸毒者MMT的保持率较高,但在24个月后维持率出现快速的下降.需要加强对吸毒人群的心理辅导和社会帮扶工作,适当提高维持治疗剂量,以提高吸毒人群参加社区药物维持治疗的依从性.     

Female genital mutilation: overview and obstetrical care

According to 1991 census data, 72,285 East Africans are residing in Canada. Many female immigrants underwent female genital mutilation (FGM) in their countries of origin. This article, prepared by a Somalian midwife and health educator, describes FGM and its implications for obstetric-gynecologic care in Canada. Canadian obstetricians, especially males, must be sensitive to the cultural backgrounds of women who present with FGM and keep in mind that these women are reluctant to expose their genitals. Fear that they will be denied the right to natural childbirth prevents many women with FGM from presenting to a hospital. Medical mismanagement of women with FGM during childbirth can result in complications such as urine retention, perineal tears, and infection. Although infibulation after childbirth is customary for women with FGM, physicians in Ontario are authorized only to repair the surgically incised area. The Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has designated performance of FGM by a Canadian physician as professional misconduct. Several organizations in Ontario are available to serve as resources for obstetricians who care for women with FGM. The Toronto Birth Control and Venereal Disease Information Center offers classes on childbirth and sexuality and contraception counseling to women with FGM.