Diagnostic perceptions and diagnostic behavior in a family practice unit

Results of a pilot study with nine physicians in a model Family Practice Unit are described in this report. It was hypothesized that decisions regarding treatment priorities would lead to the "undertreatment" of ailments for which the physicians felt relatively ineffective and that feelings of efficacy would be greater for primarily organic than for primarily psychological ailments. Physician interviews and examination of the Unit's diagnostic file provided the data for this study. A treatment bias as a function of the degree to which an ailment had a psychological compenent was not demonstrated. However, the physicians did feel less effective (less comfortable) in treating problems that were significantly psychological and also felt that methods of intervention for such ailments were less clear-cut. Physician comfort level was greater when there were few alternative treatment methods generally used for the ailment and when the ailment was recorded frequently. A suggestion is made that medical curricula include more practical experience in treating ailments which have notable psychological components in order to increase physician comfort and probably physician effectiveness.