Stable chronic disease: a behavioral model.
A three-year study was undertaken in the general medical clinic of a private community hospital, to assess the health behavior, health status, and profile of function of stable chronic disease was developed and tested. It was shown that these patients used a disproportionate amount of health care services. Half of the group was treated by a nurse practitioner/physician team and half by a house officer/preceptor team. Patients in both groups behaved similarly. These patients: 1) made frequent demands for outpatient services but did not need more than average hospital care; 2) tended to have problems of socio-economic indigency; 3) were likely to have hypertension, obesity, arthritis, and functional disease; 4) were chiefly women; 5) required special visits 9 percent of the time, usually for exacerbations of illness or intercurrent health problems; 6) made greater demands if they had functional complaints as a primary or secondary health problem; and 7) viewed their health more positively and functioned at a higher level if they were over 65 years of age. It was also found that the nurse practitioner, working in consultation with a physician, was able to provide high-quality health care.
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002140:California; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D000078329:Workforce