title: Psychosocial performance of family physicians.
abstract: This study surveyed 30 residency-trained family physicians all currently in practice to determine the nature of their psychosocial interactions with patients. In general, respondents were satisfied with the quality of their psychosocial training in residency and generally evaluated their competency on a range of psychosocial skills as adequate to excellent. Physician psychosocial competency was most strongly related to residency, but not to postresidency, behavioral science training or to psychosocial screening practices. Frequency of performing psychosocial behaviors was also related to behavioral science training, as well as to length of time in practice. Neither frequency nor self-perceived competency related to physician age, gender, patient volume, or type of practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of California-Irvine 92613-1491.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lenahan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001525:Behavioral Sciences / Q000193:education; D003376:Counseling; D003479:Curriculum; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D011361:Professional Competence; D012189:Retrospective Studies