PRIMARY AND PREVENTIVE CARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY OBSTETRICIAN-GYNECOLOGISTS

Objective: To determine the level and types of primary and preventive care services delivered by obstetrician-gynecolosists. Methods: A self -administered questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 1250 obst etrician-gynecologists practicing in the United States. The response r ate was 71%. Results: Fifty-three percent of the respondents indicated that they provide primary and preventive care during more than half o f their practice time. Although obstetrician-gynecologists provide a w ide range of preventive services, the proportion of doctors providing any specific service varies. Whereas virtually all (92% or more) obste trician-gynecologists provide or order blood pressure screening, breas t examinations, mammography, and Papanicolaou tests, only six of ten r eport regular cholesterol screening for most of their patients. A high er percentage of female obstetrician-gynecologists, who are on average younger than their male counterparts, report that they provide primar y preventive services to most of their patients. Conclusion: The major ity of obstetrician-gynecologists provide a wide range of primary and preventive care services to their patients, although there is variabil ity in the proportion of doctors providing any specific service to mos t (60% or more) of their patients.