A study of HMO physicians' receptivity to special programs for sociomedical and behavioral problems.

The purpose of this study was to determine HMO physicians' receptivity to special organized programs dealing with sociomedical and behavioral problems. The study population consisted of full-time physicians in a large prepaid group practice HMO, and the data were obtained in 1977 by means of a self-administered structured questionnaire. Most physicians favored special organized services for alcoholism, drug abuse, obesity, disturbances in sexual relations, and the like. Except for alcohol and drug abuse, favoring organized services for one problem did not correlate highly across problem areas. Specialty, AMA membership, and political orientation were the main characteristics that differentiated physicians on their receptivity to organized programs for sociomedical problems. Social background and professional training and experience may be more important than the practice setting in influencing physicians' receptivity to these types of services.