Commentary: Primary care and diagnosis of cancer : The Lancet Oncology

Primary care and diagnosis of cancer : The Lancet Oncology

"..........These findings raise several questions. Do modes of cancer presentation vary systematically between different groups of patients? Are general practitioners more reluctant to refer young or non-white patients for investigation of possible cancer? Are participants in these groups less willing to accept a referral to investigate possible cancer? Lyratzopoulos and colleagues' study will raise concerns for those involved in diagnosing and treating patients with cancer. This descriptive study suggests several hypotheses concerning pathways to accessing cancer care that deserve to be tested prospectively in future research."

open access: Impact of remuneration and organizational factors on completing preventive manoeuvres in primary care practices

Blogger's Note: note patient numbers per physician; study limitations

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Primary care providers are increasingly interested in ensuring that preventive health care be part of their work routines.1 This reorientation fits with the evidence that recommendations from family practitioners increase substantially the likelihood of patients undergoing preventive manoeuvres,2 whereas the lack of such recommendations has been linked with patient noncompliance.3^,4

Studies evaluating adherence to recommended preventive care suggest that the most pervasive barriers rest with the organization of the health care system and the practice itself, such as the absence of external financial incentives for the work done and the lack of a reminder system in the office.3^,5^–9

Countries attempting to reform their delivery of primary care and improve the delivery of preventive services have often directed their efforts in finding alternatives to the traditional fee-for-service model, in which providers receive payment for each service provided......."

(full free access) Decisions, Decisions: Family Doctors as Gatekeepers to Prescription Drugs and Diagnostic Imaging in Canada

Decisions, Decisions: Family Doctors as Gatekeepers to Prescription Drugs and Diagnostic Imaging in Canada
 
O U R F I N D I N G S:

The Health Council of Canada is unable to conclusively determine if the use of family physician services has increased, decreased or remained stable over the past decade, despite a rise in the number of practising family physicians in Canada. This is due to the growing variety of physician practice models across the country and the way data are collected,(or not) to reflect the services provided.