title: What family physicians need in their doctor's bag.
abstract: Our objective was to determine what family physicians need in their doctor's bag for urgent and non-urgent house calls. In a prospective survey, family physicians completed a structured report form after consecutive house calls, recording what equipment they needed for each. Thirteen doctors from two urban practices, making a total of 111 house calls, took part. Frequency of reported need of diagnostic equipment, therapeutic agents and administrative supplies was measured. Items required more than 70% of the time were: stethoscope; sphygmomanometer; patient's medical chart; and prescription pad. All other items were required in less than 30% of house calls. We conclude that doctors should carry a stethoscope, sphygmomanometer and prescription pad with them at all times; the patient's medical chart is also essential. Additional equipment should be accessible as prepared kits and taken as needed, depending on the particular patient's problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vinker
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Weingarten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004630:Emergencies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019023:Stethoscopes; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health