Researchers found primary care physicians fail to discuss three out of six preventive health services to patients eligible for care, according to the American Journal of Preventive Health . The lead scientists, Dierdre A. Shires, from Henry Ford Health System in Detroit Michigan, and research colleagues uncovered this deficiency in care from 2007 to 2009 on 64 physicians.
The Henry Ford Health System study revealed the frequently recommended or provided preventive services for the age group of 50 to 80 year included the three screening examinations of colon cancer, breast cancer and hypertension. Generally, six prevention checks arise at annual visits. The least mentioned preventive services comprised advice on aspirin use, vision screening and influenza immunization.
Since 1989, the US Preventive Services Task Forces, an independent panel of non-Federal experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine, published guidelines on prevention. In addition to the six preventive services advocated above, the current recommended screening examinations include screening for cervical cancer, depression, diabetes, glaucoma, hearing loss, high cholesterol, HIV, obesity, osteoporosis, sexually transmitted disease and skin cancer, as well as inquiring about taking breast cancer preventing drugs or estrogen for hormone replacement therapy.
The study by Shires and colleagues reported that patients who raised concerns about their health focused the dialogue on what topics underwent discuss during the healthcare visit. Therefore, patients with the ability to speak up during their healthcare visit about preventive services reap the benefit of receiving services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Forces.
Further, the study advocated using emerging approaches for communication. Measures to improve compliance to preventive healthcare include use of email or mail reminders and automated telephone messages.