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Does having regular care by a family physician improve preventive care?
W J McIsaac1, E Fuller-Thomson, Y Talbot
1Mount Sinai Family Medicine Centre, Toronto, Ont. wincisaac@mtsinai.on.ca
Canadian Family Physician Medecin De Famille Canadien
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Adults with regular family physician care are more likely to receive preventive health services. This includes blood pressure checks, mammograms, and Pap smears, highlighting the importance of consistent primary care.
Area of Science:
- Primary care research
- Preventive medicine
- Health services research
Background:
- Preventive services are crucial for early disease detection and management.
- The role of ongoing relationships with family physicians in accessing these services is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if regular family physician care is associated with increased utilization of preventive health services.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of the 1994 National Population Health Survey, a cross-sectional study of 15,731 Canadian adults.
- Examined self-reported visits to general practitioners and specialists.
- Assessed receipt of blood pressure measurements, mammography, and Pap smears.
Main Results:
- A dose-response relationship was found between the level of regular family physician care and receiving preventive services.
- Adults with less regular care were less likely to have blood pressure checked.
- Women with less regular care were less likely to have mammograms or Pap smears.
Conclusions:
- Regular care from a family physician is positively associated with receiving recommended preventive services.
- Consistent primary care relationships may facilitate adherence to screening guidelines.