Impact of Primary Care Education in Postgraduate Internal Medicine Training on Cancer-Screening Practice Patterns

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-1998

Journal

Teaching and Learning in Medicine

Volume

10

Issue

3

DOI

10.1207/S15328015TLM1003_8

Abstract

Background: During the past decade, there has been increased emphasis on preventive care in postgraduate medical education. Primary care internal medicine residencies have been established. However, the impact of focused preventive care education on resident physicians' cancer-screening practices has not been well studied. Purpose: To evaluate primary care and categorical internal medicine resident physicians' adherence to cancer-screening guidelines. Methods: A retrospective chart review conducted between 1989-1994. Results: The resident physicians who received more primary care education offered more instruction on self-breast examination (p < .0007), obtained more mammographies (p < .00001), and performed more breast examinations (p < .00001), Pap smears (p < .00001), rectal examinations for colorectal cancer screening (p < .0004), fecal occult blood testing (p < .00001), flexible sigmoidoscopies (p < .00001), and rectal examinations for prostate cancer screening (p < .00001). Conclusions: Primary care emphasis during internal medicine residency can significantly influence cancer screening. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 10(3), 167-171 Copyright 1998 by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

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