Variation in physician opinion about scheduling of return visits for common ambulatory care conditions.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether there is consensus about intervals between visits for adult general medicine patients with common ambulatory care conditions.

DESIGN

Survey of practicing physicians and residents.

SETTING

Ambulatory care at a hospital clinic, a group practice, and a physician office.

PARTICIPANTS

153 physicians, including residents, fellows, and staff from The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, internists and family practitioners from three Iowa towns, and internists from Atlantic City, New Jersey.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

There was wide variation in responses, with greater consensus for more acute conditions than for chronic conditions or preventive care.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Wide variation exists in proposed intervals between visits for care of patients with common ambulatory conditions. 2) Variation occurs within the same geographic area and is unassociated with year of graduation from medical school, year in training, or academic appointment 3) Further study is needed to assess the significance of this variation.