Public health detailing of primary care providers: New York City's experience, 2003-2010.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effectiveness of the Public Health Detailing Program in helping primary care providers and their staff to improve patient care on public health challenges.


METHODS
We analyzed reported changes in clinical practice or behavior by examining providers' retention and implementation of recommendations for campaigns.


RESULTS
During each campaign, 170 to 443 providers and 136 to 221 sites were reached. Among assessed providers who indicated changes in their practice behavior, the following statistically significant increases occurred from baseline to follow-up. Reported screening for clinical preventive services increased, including routinely screening for intimate partner violence (14%-42%). Clinical management increased, such as prescribing longer-lasting supplies of medicine (29%-42%). Lifestyle modification and behavior change, such as recommending increased physical activity to patients with high cholesterol levels, rose from 52% to 73%. Self-management goal setting with patients increased, such as using a clinical checkbook to track hemoglobin A1c goals (28% to 43%).


CONCLUSIONS
Data suggest that public health detailing can be effective for linking public health agencies and their recommendations to providers and influencing reported changes in clinical practice behavior.
Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY 11101, USA. mdresser@health.nyc.gov
Michelle G
MG
Dresser
Leslie
L
Short
Laura
L
Wedemeyer
Victoria Lowerson
VL
Bredow
Rachel
R
Sacks
Kelly
K
Larson
Joslyn
J
Levy
Lynn D
LD
Silver
D003142:Communication; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011635:Public Health Administration; D058996:Quality Improvement