Comments on: The annual physical http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/10/annual-physical_22.html medical blog Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:58:15 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: M. http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/10/annual-physical_22.html/comment-page-1#comment-81207 M. Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:11:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/10/the-annual-physical-3.html#comment-81207 “And annual exams are still phenomenally popular: A study released last month found that 64 million Americans a year get a physical or gynecological exam, costing $7.8 billion and outpacing visits for respiratory conditions or high blood pressure.”<br/><br/>I think the problem is that people expected to be checked for certain things and go through the whole process, even if the medical world has finaly acknowledged that such exams are not that effective for everyone, people are resistant to change and some may believe it is some form of rationing if they don’t fully understand the evidence behind the decision. <br/><br/>Also, regarding the gynecological exams especially, wouldn’t this get tangled in with informed refusal and prescription in some areas/cases (a mixture of defensive medicine and other laws)? I’m not sure if that is right, but I always thought that such things contributed to the “once every year” decision when others believe once every couple of years is sufficient. As I said, I’m not entirely sure; maybe someone can clear this up for me? I’d appreciate it! “And annual exams are still phenomenally popular: A study released last month found that 64 million Americans a year get a physical or gynecological exam, costing $7.8 billion and outpacing visits for respiratory conditions or high blood pressure.”

I think the problem is that people expected to be checked for certain things and go through the whole process, even if the medical world has finaly acknowledged that such exams are not that effective for everyone, people are resistant to change and some may believe it is some form of rationing if they don’t fully understand the evidence behind the decision.

Also, regarding the gynecological exams especially, wouldn’t this get tangled in with informed refusal and prescription in some areas/cases (a mixture of defensive medicine and other laws)? I’m not sure if that is right, but I always thought that such things contributed to the “once every year” decision when others believe once every couple of years is sufficient. As I said, I’m not entirely sure; maybe someone can clear this up for me? I’d appreciate it!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/10/annual-physical_22.html/comment-page-1#comment-81201 Anonymous Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:46:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/10/the-annual-physical-3.html#comment-81201 Haven't you doctors learned the lessons of evidence based medicine? Assuming that preventative care lecturettes are part of most physical exam, there is no evidence that the exams or lecturettes DO ANY GOOD.<br/><br/>I know you doctors have such high estimations of your own verbal products--but apparently they are of utility only to yourselves. Haven’t you doctors learned the lessons of evidence based medicine? Assuming that preventative care lecturettes are part of most physical exam, there is no evidence that the exams or lecturettes DO ANY GOOD.

I know you doctors have such high estimations of your own verbal products–but apparently they are of utility only to yourselves.

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