Variation in recommendations for cancer screening among primary care physicians in New Mexico.
The acceptance of age-appropriate cancer screening as an integral part of primary care has grown among physicians over the past decade. We conducted a mailed survey of all primary care physicians in New Mexico in order to better understand their current cancer screening practices. We found a high rate of self-reported screening, particularly for prostate and colorectal cancer. The screening rates were influenced only slightly by the introduction of evidence-based guidelines, with younger physicians and those with university affiliations more likely to follow recommendations. Female physicians and obstetrician-gynecologists endorsed breast and cervical cancer screening among all age groups and were less likely to follow recommendations for less frequent screening in women as they age. Since a physician's practice beliefs influence his/her attitude toward testing, tailoring education by physician specialty may be more effective than using generic messages in encouraging compliance with the most recent evidence-based guidelines.
Herman
C J
CJ
University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, USA.
Hoffman
R M
RM
Altobelli
K K
KK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009516:New Mexico; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires