Preventive health services implemented by family physicians in Portugal-a cross-sectional study based on two clinical scenarios

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Carlos Martins (Author) FMUP; Luís Azevedo (Author) FMUP; Cristina Santos (Author) FMUP; Luísa Sá (Author) FMUP; Paulo Santos (Author) FMUP; Maria Luciana Couto (Author) FMUP; Altamiro da Costa Pereira (Author) FMUP; Alberto Hespanhol (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: BMJ Open

Vol. 4 No. 5

Pages: e005162-e005162

ISSN: 2044-6055

Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 6 Citations

Scopus - 6 Citations

Pubmed / Medline

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

CORDIS: Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Family medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-J9J

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005162

Abstract (EN): 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.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12