Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine HMO physicians' receptivity to special organized programs dealing with sociomedical and behavioral problems. The study population consisted of full-time physicians in a large prepaid group practice HMO, and the data were obtained in 1977 by means of a self-administered structured questionnaire. Most physicians favored special organized services for alcoholism, drug abuse, obesity, disturbances in sexual relations, and the like. Except for alcohol and drug abuse, favoring organized services for one problem did not correlate highly across problem areas. Specialty, AMA membership, and political orientation were the main characteristics that differentiated physicians on their receptivity to organized programs for sociomedical problems. Social background and professional training and experience may be more important than the practice setting in influencing physicians' receptivity to these types of services.
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Additional information
At the time of this study, Dr. Nash was a medical student at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Freeborn is Associate Director of the Health Services Research Center, Kaiser-Permanente Medical Care Program, Oregon Region, 4610 S.E. Belmont, Portland, Oregon 97215. Dr. Barker is Associate Professor, Department of Preventive, Family and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. Freeborn.
The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of B.J. Darsky, Ph.D., who with Dr. Freeborn is responsible for the physician survey from which the physicians' data derive. Dr. John Mullooly's statistical consultation on the analysis is also appreciated. Finally, thanks are due Vicky Burnham and others at the Research Center who helped on various aspects of the study.
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Nash, D.B., Freeborn, D.K. & Barker, W.H. A study of HMO physicians' receptivity to special programs for sociomedical and behavioral problems. J Community Health 7, 239–249 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01318957
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01318957