Patients' Desires as Compared to Expectations for Psychosocial Intervention by their Family Physician

The purpose of this study was to challenge previous studies on defining a behavioural science curriculum for family physicians. Schwenk's original questionnaire was reworded to ask patients what they desire ideally from their family physician as compared to what they have come to expect that their physician would do to manage 45 psychosocial problems. We found equivalence between the expectations and preferences in two family practice units with diverse patient populations. Patients wanted significantly more involvement than they expected in problems of overweight; lack of exercise; difficulty sleeping; adjustment to a family move; hospitalization of a family member; long-term physical illness; and abortion. The majority of problems fell in the some help/concern category (level 3). Expert help (level 4) was wanted in the areas of childhood illness, long-term physical illness, and pregnancy. A suggested behavioural science curriculum is outlined.