Background: The routine periodic health evaluation (PHE) is a popular format in primary care practice for the delivery of clinical preventive services to adults, but knowledge of the current pattern of use and of the content of the PHE is limited.
Methods: We surveyed a random sample of 567 family physicians (response rate, 60.1%) in New England regarding their approach to and attitudes about the PHE of adults.
Results: Family physicians reported spending a mean of 35.2% (11.6 hours per week) of their total ambulatory care time on adult PHEs, which were usually scheduled for 20 to 30 minutes each. All respondents recommended a PHE to men > or = 50 years old and to women > or = 40 years old, and more than 90% recommended a PHE to younger patients. Most physicians (80.7%) reported that the PHE is their primary mechanism for delivering preventive services, and 90.6% believed that the PHE should include a comprehensive physical examination. The mean number of physical examination items performed during the PHE was 11.6 to 13.9, depending on patient age and sex. As part of the PHE, most physicians (71.6% to 90.7%, depending on patient age and sex) ordered one or more screening laboratory tests not recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force. Utilization of fewer laboratory tests was associated with residency training, employment in a health maintenance organization (HMO), and limited concern about malpractice suits.
Conclusions: Family physicians reported spending a substantial amount of time on the PHE of adults, performing extensive screening physical examinations and many screening laboratory tests of unknown effectiveness. Among family physicians, there is considerable unexplained variation in the form and content of the PHE.