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Primary and preventive care services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists
J A Horton1, D F Cruess, W H Pearse
1American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Most obstetrician-gynecologists provide extensive primary and preventive care. While nearly all offer screenings like blood pressure and Pap tests, cholesterol screening is less common, with female doctors more frequently providing these services.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Preventive Medicine
- Primary Care
Background:
- Obstetrician-gynecologists play a crucial role in women's health.
- Assessing the scope of primary and preventive care services offered by these specialists is important for public health.
- Understanding the current landscape of care delivery can identify areas for improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the extent and variety of primary and preventive healthcare services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists in the United States.
- To identify specific services frequently offered and those with lower reported rates of delivery.
- To explore potential demographic influences, such as physician gender, on service provision.
Main Methods:
- A national survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to a random sample of 1250 practicing obstetrician-gynecologists.
- A response rate of 71% was achieved, providing a robust dataset for analysis.
- Data collected focused on the types and frequency of primary and preventive care services delivered.
Main Results:
- Over half (53%) of responding obstetrician-gynecologists dedicate more than 50% of their practice time to primary and preventive care.
- High rates of service provision were observed for blood pressure screening (≥92%), breast exams (≥92%), mammography (≥92%), and Papanicolaou tests (≥92%).
- Cholesterol screening was reported by only 60% of physicians for most patients. Female physicians, who are generally younger, more frequently reported providing primary preventive services.
Conclusions:
- A significant majority of obstetrician-gynecologists are actively involved in delivering a broad spectrum of primary and preventive care.
- Variability exists in the consistent provision of specific services, with cholesterol screening being an area of lower reported uptake.
- Physician demographics, particularly gender, may correlate with differences in the delivery of preventive care services.
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