In recent years, increasing attention has focused on providing preventive services that have been associated with dramatic reductions in morbidity and mortality.
To compare the desires of patients, recommendations of physicians and actual performance of health care centers, we surveyed 977 patients from three university based family outpatient clinics and six private family clinics and 59 family physicians by questionnaires and we investigated health care contents that were performed by 23 health care centers in Seoul, in July, 1989.
The results were as follows :
1) Of the 977 patients, 482 patients(49.3%) desired a periodic health examination, even if feeling well. There were no differencies in age, sex, marital status between who desired a periodic health examination and those who did not, but more educated, higher income patients were more desired it.
2) In counselling of periodic health examination, physicians recommended more than patients desired and a few item was performed at health care centers.
3) In physical examination, physicians recommended more than patients desire, and the most selected item was blood pressure by physicians and patients. At health care centers, height and weight, blood pressure, vision, hearing were performed more than patient's desire and physician's recommendation, but oral cavity, mammography, pelvic examination, digital rectal examination were performed less than.
4) In diagnostic procedure, physicians recommended more than patients desire, and patients selected more than counselling and physical examination. At health care centers, laboratory examination through blood and urine samples were performed more than patient's desire and physician's recommendation, but Pap smear(78.9%). mammography(39.1%), barium enema(0.0%) were performed less than.
5) In frequency of selected health care items, patients desired more frequently than physicians recommended, and there was no recommendation about it at health care centers.