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Physician Practice Behavior and Practice Guidelines: Using Unannounced Standardized Patients to Gather Data

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Abstract

Background

Measuring actual practice behaviors of physicians, particularly as they relate to established clinical guidelines, is challenging. Standardized patients provide one method of collecting such data.

Objective

To demonstrate the use of unannounced standardized patients in gathering data that may address adherence to guidelines in an office setting.

Design

Unannounced standardized patients (SPs) simulating an initial type 2 diabetic visit presented to community offices of 32 internists as “real” patients to record physicians’ evaluation and management.

Participants

Unannounced SPs presented to the office of 32 internists as “real” patients.

Measurements

Unannounced SPs, simulating type 2 diabetics, completed a standardized assessment sheet, based on ADA guidelines to record physicians’ evaluation and management following an initial visit. Patient charts were also reviewed to determine if evaluation adhered to the guidelines.

Results

Unannounced SPs recorded 56 visits with 32 community internists; all SPs remained undetected. All physicians asked SPs about medications. At least 50% of physicians asked about home blood sugar monitoring, last eye exam, smoking, edema, and told patients to stop smoking. Less than 50% of physicians asked about parasthesias, performed fundoscopy, examined feet, referred the patient to a diabetic educator or ophthalmologist, or gave patients suggestions regarding glucose monitoring or exercise. HbA1c was ordered in 78%, metabolic profiles in 86%, and urinalysis/microalbumin in 41% of patients.

Conclusions

Unannounced standardized patients can successfully collect important data regarding physician practices in community settings. This method may be helpful in assessing physician adherence to established clinical practice guidelines.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded in part through an educational research grant from the Quality Care Research Fund, Aetna U.S. Healthcare, and has been presented in abstract form at the Southern Regional Meeting of the Southern Society of Clinical Investigation, February 2002, and the AAMC Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, November 2002.

Conflict of Interest

None disclosed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

    N. Kevin Krane MD, Delia Anderson MS, Cathy J. Lazarus MD, Michael Termini MD, Bruce Bowdish PhD, Sheila Chauvin PhD & Vivian Fonseca MD

  2. Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-95, New Orleans, LA, 70112-2699, USA

    N. Kevin Krane MD & Vivian Fonseca MD

Authors
  1. N. Kevin Krane MD
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  2. Delia Anderson MS
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  3. Cathy J. Lazarus MD
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  4. Michael Termini MD
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  7. Vivian Fonseca MD
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Correspondence to N. Kevin Krane MD.

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Krane, N.K., Anderson, D., Lazarus, C.J. et al. Physician Practice Behavior and Practice Guidelines: Using Unannounced Standardized Patients to Gather Data. J GEN INTERN MED 24, 53–56 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-008-0826-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-008-0826-3

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