SCREENING RECOMMENDATIONS IN GENERAL-PRACTICE - A SURVEY OF GRADUATESFROM DIFFERENT MEDICAL-SCHOOLS

Objective: To examine the influence of sociodemographic background, me dical school background, general practice characteristics and attitude s towards preventive medicine on the screening recommendations of New South Wales (NSW) general practitioners (GPs). Methods: From the NSW M edical Board Register, a sample was obtained of all GPs who graduated between 1983 and 1987 from the University of Newcastle and a random 1- in-3 sample of GPs from the Universities of Sydney and NSW. Two questi onnaires were mailed consecutively. Participants: 363 GPs (56% respons e rate) who completed questionnaires suitable for analysis. Main outco me measure: A composite screening score for assessing agreement with s tandard screening guidelines. The score was derived by allocating poin ts to the screening intervals that GPs recommended for 13 screening te sts. A score of 39 indicated maximum agreement with guidelines. Result s: 87% of GPs reported being aware of standard screening guidelines. F or most screening tests, there was a discrepancy between GPs' recommen dations and those of the guidelines. Composite screening scores ranged from 8-38. There were significantly higher screening scores for gradu ates of Newcastle versus Sydney and NSW university medical schools com bined (adjusted mean, 28.0 versus 25.9; P=0.0436), group versus solo G Ps (adjusted mean, 26.3 versus 25.6; P=0.0092) and GPs in rural versus urban locations (adjusted mean, 27.9 versus 25.6; P=0.0049). Conclusi ons: GPs' recommendations for screening are not always consistent with standard guidelines, despite an awareness of them. Research is needed into the variation with which different screening tests are ordered.