[Bird watching among physicians].

Bird watching can be an ideal activity for a physician. By their training, doctors may be more inclined than other professionals to take the time to observe birds. Medical studies provide basic knowledge, especially in biology and physics.

Adherence to recommended standards of diabetes care by Swiss primary care physicians.

Objectives: To assess adherence to recommended standards of diabetes care by Swiss primary care physicians.

Methods: Medical files of community-based primary care physician were reviewed to assess adherence to recommended standards of diabetes care. These standards of care were based on a uniform set of definitions addressing medical care processes involved in the detection and follow-up of pre-diabetic and diabetic patients.

Importance of lifestyle counselling by primary care physicians for diabetic patients.

Objective: To identify diabetic patients' characteristics and medical care factors associated with recommended glycaemic control (HbA(1c) < or =7%).

Methods: As part of a cross-sectional assessment of diabetes care involving 204 Swiss primary care physicians, we identified 366 diabetic patients with a recent HbA(1c) value. Cross-tabulations and X(2) tests were used to explore the association of patients' sociodemographic and disease characteristics and medical care characteristics with HbA(1c) < or =7%.

Osteoporosis case finding in the general practice: phalangeal radiographic absorptiometry with and without risk factors for osteoporosis to select postmenopausal women eligible for lumbar spine and hip densitometry.

Mass screening for osteoporosis using DXA measurements at the spine and hip is presently not recommended by health authorities. Instead, risk factor questionnaires and peripheral bone measurements may facilitate the selection of women eligible for axial bone densitometry. The aim of this study was to validate a case finding strategy for postmenopausal women who would benefit most from subsequent DXA measurement by using phalangeal radiographic absorptiometry (RA) alone or in combination with risk factors in a general practice setting.

Prevalence rate and reasons for refusals of influenza vaccine in elderly.

More knowledge on the reasons for refusal of the influenza vaccine in elderly patients is essential to target groups for additional information, and hence improve coverage rate. The objective of the present study was to describe precisely the true motives for refusal. All patients aged over 64 who attended the Medical Outpatient Clinic, University of Lausanne, or their private practitioner's office during the 1999 and 2000 vaccination periods were included.

Improving influenza vaccination rates in the elderly.

Background: Vaccination coverage for influenza in the elderly remains low when the physician is the only person responsible for immunization. Integration of other health care workers may improve the coverage rate of at-risk groups.

Objectives: To estimate vaccination coverage rate by using a strategy based on the systematic intervention of a health care professional proposing vaccination before the doctor's consultation, to evaluate the changes in coverage rates before and after introduction of this strategy, and to assess the feasibility of this intervention and the achieved coverage rate in family physician offices.