Practice and payment preferences of newly practising family physicians in British Columbia.
(7/22)
OBJECTIVE: To examine the remuneration model preferences of newly practising family physicians. DESIGN: Mixed-methods study comprising a cross-sectional, Web-based survey, as well as qualitative content analysis of answers to open-ended questions. SETTING: British Columbia. PARTICIPANTS: University of British Columbia family practice residents who graduated between 2000 and 2009. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preferred remuneration models of newly practising physicians. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 31% (133 of 430). Of respondents, 71% (93 of 132) preferred non-fee-for-service practice models and 86% (110 of 132) identified the payment model as very or somewhat important in their choice of future practice. Three principal themes were identified from content analysis of respondents' open-ended comments: frustrations with fee-for-service billing, which encompassed issues related to aggravations with "the business side of things" and was seen as impeding "the freedom to focus on medicine"; quality of patient care, which embraced the importance of a payment model that supported "comprehensive patient care" and "quality rather than quantity"; and freedom to choose, which supported the plurality of practice preferences among providers who strived to provide quality care for patients, "whatever model you happen to be working in." CONCLUSION: Newly practising physicians in British Columbia preferred alternatives to fee-for-service payment models, which were perceived as contributing to fewer frustrations with billing systems, improved quality of work life, and better quality of patient care. (+info)
The effect of training on the use of tobacco-use cessation guidelines in dental settings.
(8/22)
BACKGROUND: An increase in the number of dentists conducting tobacco-use cessation treatment is needed. The authors assessed the effects of high-intensity training (HIT) or low-intensity training (LIT) and reimbursement on general dentists' tobacco-use-related attitudes and treatment behaviors. METHODS: The authors randomly selected 265 dentists in three states and assigned them to one of five groups: HIT workshop groups with and without tobacco-use cessation counseling reimbursement, LIT mailed self-study groups with and without reimbursement or a control group. Outcomes at follow-up were dentists' self-reported tobacco-use-related attitudes and behaviors and patients' reports of dentists' behaviors. RESULTS: Significantly more dentists in the intervention groups reported having positive attitudes and behaviors at follow-up than did dentists in the control group. Dentists in the HIT groups, however, reported assessing patients' willingness to quit and assisting them with the quitting process significantly more often than did dentists in the LIT groups. Significantly more patients of dentists in the intervention groups who used tobacco reported receiving advice and assistance from their dentists than did patients of dentists in the control group. Adding reimbursement to HIT or LIT conditions did not provide additional intervention effect. CONCLUSION: Dentists trained by means of a workshop or self-study program used components of a recommended guideline more frequently and felt more positive toward tobacco-use cessation counseling than did dentists in the control group. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Although the workshop training was more successful than the self-study training, the latter's reach among dentists could have a more significant public health impact. The effect of reimbursement needs further study. (+info)