A multimethod study of needs for physician assessment: implications for education and regulation.

Introduction: Deficiencies in physician competence play an important role in medical errors and poor-quality health care. National trends toward implementation of continuous assessment of physicians hold potential for significant impact on patient care because minor deficiencies can be identified before patient safety is threatened. However, the availability of assessment methods and the quality of existing tools vary, and a better understanding of the types of deficiencies seen in physicians is required to prioritize the development and enhancement of assessment and remediation methods.

Organizational culture influences health care workers' influenza immunization behavior.

Background And Objectives: Low rates of influenza immunization among health care workers (HCWs) pose a potential health risk to patients in primary care practices. Despite previous educational efforts and programs to reduce financial barriers, HCW influenza immunization rates remain low. Variation in practice-level organizational culture may affect immunization rates.

Influenza immunization disparities in primary care offices--a comparative case study.

Without insight into the primary care environment, further improvements in influenza immunization rates are unlikely. We conducted a comparative case study of family medicine offices during the 2003 influenza immunization season. Practice 1 (P1) served an urban African American population, practice 2 (P2) served a suburban non-minority population, practice 3 (P3) served an urban Hispanic population.

Complementary and alternative medicine in US family medicine practices: a pilot qualitative study.

Context: The growth of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has led some family medicine practices to include CAM. Acupuncture or herbal medicine, for example, may be offered at such practices. When a practice incorporates both CAM and conventional treatments, its goals and values may differ from those found in traditional primary care.

Chasteberry.

For centuries, chasteberry has been used to treat many hormone-related gynecologic conditions. The current literature supports the use of chasteberry for cyclical breast discomfort and premenstrual syndrome; data on its use for menstrual irregularities and fertility disorders are weak. Its traditional use as a galactagogue (i.

Assessing diversity and quality in primary care through the multimethod assessment process (MAP).

The U.S. health care system serves a diverse population, often resulting in significant disparities in delivery and quality of care.

A program for managing weight gain associated with atypical antipsychotics.

This study assessed the efficacy of a weight control program for patients taking atypical antipsychotics. Thirty-one patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder participated in a 12-week weight control program that incorporated nutrition, exercise, and behavioral interventions. Changes in patients' weight and in body mass index (BMI) were recorded and compared with those of 15 patients in a control group.

Herbs, menopause, and dialysis.

Women with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk for menstrual disorders, early menopause, and osteoporosis, and rarely discuss gynecologic and reproductive issues with their nephrologist. Various complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products are of interest to women with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who have these disorders. However, very little is known about the specifics of using herbal medicines in patients on chronic dialysis, resulting in numerous problems when patients and providers try to ascertain the safety and efficacy of these products.