Screening practices of family physicians: a comparison of STFM and AAFP members

The screening practices of 146 members of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) and 129 members of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) are compared. The screening practices of physicians from the two organizations were generally similar for psychosocial and behavioral problems, many forms of cancer, and numerous other conditions considered for inclusion in the routine periodic screening of asymptomatic individuals. However, for numerous diseases and tests, the screening practices of physicians from the two groups were significantly different. AAFP physicians were more likely to screen for lung and skin cancer, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, and anemia, AAFP physicians were more likely to utilize chest x-ray, ECG, urinalysis, and SMA 6/12. STFM physicians were more likely to perform gonoccocal culture and tetanus-diphtheria immunization as well as to inquire about seat belt use. Three variables were found to predict physician screening practices as well as to account for the differences found between physicians drawn from the two organizations: completion of a residency in family medicine, year of graduation from medical school, and number of patients seen per week. Physicians reported practices were compared with recommendations in the major critical reviews: Frame and Carlson, Breslow and Sommers, the Canadian Task Force, and the American Cancer Society. For a number of tests and diseases physicians' reported practices were divergent with recent recommendations.