Preventive health services implemented by family physicians in Portugal-a cross-sectional study based on two clinical scenarios.
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ABSTRACT: Objectives
To assess whether Portuguese family physicians perform preventive health services in accordance with scientific evidence, based on the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).Design
Cross-sectional study.Setting
Primary healthcare, Portuguese National Health Service.Participants
255 Portuguese family physicians selected by a stratified cluster sampling design were invited to participate in a computer-assisted telephone survey.Outcomes
Prevalence of compliance with USPSTF recommendations for screening, given a male and female clinical scenario and a set of proposed medical interventions, including frequency of the intervention and performance in their own daily practice.Results
A response rate of 95.7% was obtained (n=244). 98-100% of family physicians answered according to the USPSTF recommendations in most interventions. In the male scenario, the lowest concordance was observed in the evaluation of prostate-specific antigen with 37% of family physicians answering according to the USPSTF recommendations. In the female scenario, the lowest concordance was for cholesterol testing with 2% of family physicians complying. Family physicians younger than 50 years had significantly better compliance scores than older ones (mean 77% vs 72%; p<0.001).Conclusions
We found a high degree of agreement with USPSTF recommendations among Portuguese family physicians. However, we also found results suggesting excessive use of some medical interventions, raising concerns related to possible harm associated with overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
SUBMITTER: Martins C
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4039810 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Preventive health services implemented by family physicians in Portugal-a cross-sectional study based on two clinical scenarios.
Martins Carlos C Azevedo Luís Filipe LF Santos Cristina C Sá Luísa L Santos Paulo P Couto Maria M Pereira Altamiro A Hespanhol Alberto A
BMJ open 20140526 5
<h4>Objectives</h4>To assess whether Portuguese family physicians perform preventive health services in accordance with scientific evidence, based on the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional study.<h4>Setting</h4>Primary healthcare, Portuguese National Health Service.<h4>Participants</h4>255 Portuguese family physicians selected by a stratified cluster sampling design were invited to participate in a computer-assisted telepho ...[more]
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