Self-perception of fracture risk: what can it tell us?

In this study, we report that self-perception of fracture risk captures some aspect of fracture risk not currently measured using conventional fracture prediction tools and is associated with improved medication uptake. It suggests that adequate appreciation of fracture risk may be beneficial and lead to greater healthcare engagement and treatment. INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess how well self-perception of fracture risk, and fracture risk as estimated by the fracture prediction tool FRAX, related to fracture incidence and uptake and persistence of anti-osteoporosis medication among women participating in the Global Longitudinal study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW). METHODS: GLOW is an international cohort study involving 723 physician practices across 10 countries in Europe, North America and Australia. Aged ≥ 55 years, 60,393 women completed baseline questionnaires detailing medical history, including co-morbidities, fractures and self-perceived fracture risk (SPR). Annual follow-up included self-reported incident fractures and anti-osteoporosis medication (AOM) use. We calculated FRAX risk without bone mineral density measurement. RESULTS: Of the 39,241 women with at least 1 year of follow-up data, 2132 (5.4%) sustained an incident major osteoporotic fracture over 5 years of follow-up. Within each SPR category, risk of fracture increased as the FRAX categorisation of risk increased. In GLOW, only 11% of women with a lower baseline SPR were taking AOM at baseline, compared with 46% of women with a higher SPR. AOM use tended to increase in the years after a reported fracture. However, women with a lower SPR who were fractured still reported lower AOM rates than women with or without a fracture but had a higher SPR. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SPR captures some aspect of fracture risk not currently measured using conventional fracture prediction tools and is also associated with improved medication uptake.

Use of pharmacologic agents for the primary prevention of osteoporosis among older women with low bone mass.

UNLABELLED: We examined the use of pharmacologic agents for the primary prevention of osteoporosis among older women with osteopenia. We found that these individuals were not managed in concordance with the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) guidelines and that self-perceived osteoporosis risk and lower bone density were strongly associated with receipt of treatment. INTRODUCTION: Although osteoporosis medications are used for the primary prevention of osteoporosis among persons with low bone mass (osteopenia), their use may be discordant with clinical practice guidelines. METHODS: We studied women 55 years and older participating in the Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW). Eligible participants had a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) test performed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham hospital and had an osteopenia diagnosis based on their DXA test results. Participants' demographics, fracture risk factors, and exposure to osteoporosis medications were determined from the GLOW survey. We examined the proportions of women managed in concordance with the National Osteoporosis Foundation 2008 guidelines, and we assessed factors independently associated with osteoporosis treatment decisions. Women with a prior spine or hip fracture were excluded. RESULTS: Among 597 eligible women from GLOW, the mean age ± standard deviation (SD) was 70 ± 7 years. Among all subjects, 309 (52%) were treated in concordance with the NOF 2008 guidelines. Greater self-perceived osteoporosis risk and lower bone mineral density were significantly and consistently associated with receipt of osteoporosis treatment, both for those considered appropriate and for those considered inappropriate for treatment based on the NOF guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: We found significant discordance between NOF 2008 guidelines and pharmacologic management of women with osteopenia. A person's self-perceived osteoporosis risk and bone mineral density were most strongly associated with receipt of osteoporosis medication use among women with low bone mass.

Non-hip, non-spine fractures drive healthcare utilization following a fracture: the Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW).

UNLABELLED: We evaluated healthcare utilization associated with treating fracture types in >51,000 women aged ≥55 years. Over the course of 1 year, there were five times more non-hip, non-spine fractures than hip or spine fractures, resulting in twice as many days of hospitalization and rehabilitation/nursing home care for non-hip, non-spine fractures. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to evaluate medical healthcare utilization associated with treating several types of fractures in women ≥55 years from various geographic regions. METHODS: Information from the Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW) was collected via self-administered patient questionnaires at baseline and year 1 (n = 51,491). Self-reported clinically recognized low-trauma fractures at year 1 were classified as incident spine, hip, wrist/hand, arm/shoulder, pelvis, rib, leg, and other fractures. Healthcare utilization data were self-reported and included whether the fracture was treated at a doctor's office/clinic or at a hospital. Patients were asked if they had undergone surgery or been treated at a rehabilitation center or nursing home. RESULTS: During 1-year follow-up, there were 195 spine, 134 hip, and 1,654 non-hip, non-spine fractures. Clinical vertebral fractures resulted in 617 days of hospitalization and 512 days of rehabilitation/nursing home care; hip fractures accounted for 1,306 days of hospitalization and 1,650 days of rehabilitation/nursing home care. Non-hip, non-spine fractures resulted in 3,805 days in hospital and 5,186 days of rehabilitation/nursing home care. CONCLUSIONS: While hip and vertebral fractures are well recognized for their associated increase in health resource utilization, non-hip, non-spine fractures, by virtue of their 5-fold greater number, require significantly more healthcare resources.

Burden of non-hip, non-vertebral fractures on quality of life in postmenopausal women: the Global Longitudinal study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW).

UNLABELLED: Among 50,461 postmenopausal women, 1,822 fractures occurred (57% minor non-hip, non-vertebral [NHNV], 26% major NHNV, 10% spine, 7% hip) over 1 year. Spine fractures had the greatest detrimental effect on EQ-5D, followed by major NHNV and hip fractures. Decreases in physical function and health status were greatest for spine or hip fractures. INTRODUCTION: There is growing evidence that NHNV fractures result in substantial morbidity and healthcare costs. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the effect of these NHNV fractures on quality of life. METHODS: We analyzed the 1-year incidences of hip, spine, major NHNV (pelvis/leg, shoulder/arm) and minor NHNV (wrist/hand, ankle/foot, rib/clavicle) fractures among women from the Global Longitudinal study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW). Health-related quality of life (HRQL) was analyzed using the EuroQol EQ-5D tool and the SF-36 health survey. RESULTS: Among 50,461 women analyzed, there were 1,822 fractures (57% minor NHNV, 26% major NHNV, 10% spine, 7% hip) over 1 year. Spine fractures had the greatest detrimental effect on EQ-5D summary scores, followed by major NHNV and hip fractures. The number of women with mobility problems increased most for those with major NHNV and spine fractures (both +8%); spine fractures were associated with the largest increases in problems with self care (+11%), activities (+14%), and pain/discomfort (+12%). Decreases in physical function and health status were greatest for those with spine or hip fractures. Multivariable modeling found that EQ-5D reduction was greatest for spine fractures, followed by hip and major/minor NHNV. Statistically significant reductions in SF-36 physical function were found for spine fractures, and were borderline significant for major NHNV fractures. CONCLUSION: This prospective study shows that NHNV fractures have a detrimental effect on HRQL. Efforts to optimize the care of osteoporosis patients should include the prevention of NHNV fractures.

Are existing measures of overall diet quality associated with peak bone mass in young premenopausal women?

BACKGROUND: Low peak bone mass in young adulthood is associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis and fracture after menopause, and an understanding of the modifiable factors that contribute to low peak bone mass is important for fracture prevention. Diet is an important modifiable factor linked to bone health and, although studies have examined the role of individual dietary components in bone health, bone growth and maintenance are complex processes, and such studies may not adequately represent the role of diet in these processes. METHODS: To address this issue, a cross-sectional analysis of 226 healthy, premenopausal women aged 18-30 years was conducted to determine whether existing indices of overall diet quality are associated with bone density in premenopausal women nearing peak bone mass. Bone density was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and diet quality was measured using two overall diet scores based on current dietary guidelines: the Recommended Food Score and the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI). RESULTS: In the multiple linear regression, bone density did not increase across quartiles of either diet quality score and was not associated with continuous diet quality variables. Furthermore, none of the individual AHEI components (e.g. fruit intake, vegetable intake) were associated with bone density. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that existing diet quality scores are not appropriate for studies of peak bone mass, most likely because they do not give sufficient weight to foods and nutrients important to bone health. We recommend the development of a diet pattern index that better predicts bone mass measures.

Fracture risk and antiresorptive medication use in older women in the USA.

UNLABELLED: Risk of fragility fractures in older women appears to be under-recognized and under treated. Analysis of a national sample of older US women reveals that over 5 million are at high risk of fracture; only one third of these report being told they have osteoporosis and one quarter are receiving appropriate treatment. INTRODUCTION: Substantial numbers of older women in the United States suffer fragility fractures each year. Although risk for these fractures can be readily identified from clinical characteristics, many women may not be receiving treatments demonstrated to reduce risk. Our objective was to estimate the extent of fracture risk among older white US women and assess patterns of use of pharmacologic agents in response to that risk. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 were combined to enumerate risk factors for fracture and use of antiresorptive prescription medications for all white women 65 years of age and older. The FRACTURE Index (FI), developed from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF), which combines subjects' characteristics to estimate five-year fracture risk, was applied to these national data. RESULTS: Of more than 15 million US women in this age group almost 40% have one risk factor in addition to age that predisposes to fracture; 20% have two or more. More than 5 million women are in the highest category of FI risk; 26% of these will have a nonvertebral fracture and 10% will have a vertebral fracture in the next five years. Antiresorptive medications are being taken by less than 50% of women in most risk categories when all antiresorptives, including estrogen replacement, are included; only 17% of older women who have sustained a prior fracture and 13% in the highest category of FI risk are receiving agents specifically intended to reduce bone loss. CONCLUSIONS: Millions of older US women are at high risk for fragility fractures. Levels of treatment with antiresorptive medications are low and are not commensurate with fracture risk.

Trends in hospital care for hip fractures.

UNLABELLED: To assess the impact of the aging population on the occurrence of fragility fractures, we examined hospital discharges for hip fracture among U.S. women and men aged 45 years and older from 1993 through to 2003. The number of hospitalizations declined by 5%, and age-adjusted rates fell by over 20% for both women and men during this period. INTRODUCTION: Although the aging of the population should mean an increasing burden of fragility fractures, several recently published reports suggest regional declines in the incidence of hip fracture. We investigated trends in hospital discharges and utilization for hip fractures across the USA from 1993 to 2003. METHODS: Hospital discharges from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1993 through to 2003 were analyzed for numbers of primary diagnosis of hip fracture and associated average length of stay (LOS) and charges among women and men aged 45 years and older. Age-specific rates were constructed using national census data. RESULTS: Over the 11-year study period the number of hospitalizations for hip fractures decreased by 5%, from 296,000 to 281,000. The numbers of discharges declined by 16,600 (7.4%) for women and increased by 1900 (2.6%) among men. However, age-adjusted rates for both women and men fell by about 20%. Average hospital LOS was reduced by about 35% for both sexes, resulting in decreases in days of care of 42 and 33% for women and men, respectively. At the same time, average inflation-adjusted charges for each hospitalization grew by 35% for women and 38% for men, and increasing proportions of patients were discharged to continuing institutional care. During the study interval the total number of prescriptions per year for bisphosphonate anti-resorptive agents grew from under 0.5 to 30 million. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increasing size of the older segment of the U.S. population, hospitalizations for hip fractures are not increasing. With declining lengths of stay there has been a reduced demand on hospital resources, although with average charges per hospitalization rising and more patients being discharged to other institutions for continuing care the economic consequences of hip fracture continue to increase.

Hospital care of osteoporosis-related vertebral fractures.

Resource implications of hospitalization for osteoporosis-related vertebral fracture are sparsely documented. This study utilized data abstracted from a national sample of hospitalized patients to identify characteristics of patients who are hospitalized with vertebral fracture and their patterns of resource utilization. These were compared with patterns observed for hip fracture hospitalizations. Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 1997 were used to identify men and women age 45 years and above who had a primary diagnosis of vertebral fracture. After patients whose fractures might have been due to metastatic cancer or severe trauma were excluded, 68,901 individuals hospitalized for vertebral fracture were identified. Seventy-seven percent of these were women, most were white, 75 years and older, and had multiple comorbid diagnoses. Total charges averaged 8000-10,000 US dollars per hospitalization and were higher in men. Mean length of stay was just under 6 days and more than 50% of discharged patients required some form of continuing care. Hospitalizations for vertebral fracture occurred at only one-fourth the rate of those for hip fracture, and created only half the hospital charges per admission. Vertebral fracture accounted for over 400,000 total hospital days and generated charges in excess of 500 million US dollars. This resource impact is considerably higher than has been described in prior studies.

Recognition of vertebral fracture in a clinical setting.

Osteoporosis-related vertebral fractures have important health consequences for older individuals, including disability and increased mortality. Because these fractures can be prevented with appropriate medications, recognition and treatment of high-risk patients is warranted. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in a large, regional hospital in New England to examine the frequency with which vertebral fractures are identified and treated by clinicians in a population of hospitalized older women who have radiographic evidence of fractures. The study population consisted of 934 women aged 60 years and older who were hospitalized between October 1, 1995 and March 31, 1997, and who had a chest radiograph obtained. Vertebral fractures in the thoracic region were identified by two radiologists. Discharge diagnoses, medical record notes and radiology reports were compared with the results of the radiologists' readings to determine the frequency with which fractures were identified and appropriate, osteoporosis-preventing medications prescribed. Moderate or severe vertebral fractures were identified for 132 (14.1%) study subjects, but only 17 (1.8%) of the 934 participants had a discharge diagnosis of vertebral fracture. Of these 132, only 17% had fracture noted in the medical record or discharge summary; 50% of contemporaneous radiology reports identified a fracture as present; and 23% of the time it was found in the radiologist's summary impression. Only 18% of medical records indicated that fracture patients had been prescribed calcium, vitamin D, estrogen replacement or an antiresorptive agent. Relatively few hospitalized older women with radiographically demonstrated vertebral fractures were thus identified or treated by clinicians, suggesting a need for improved recognition.

Changes in the use of diagnostic technologies among Medicare patients, 1985 and 1990.

This paper examines changes in the use of selected diagnostic technologies for Medicare patients in 1985 and 1990. The analysis compares patients across five common, medical tracer conditions: acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage. The relationship of hospital characteristics to patterns of technology use was assessed by grouping hospitals by a composite measure of "costliness." The overall use of 21 diagnostic tests rose by 27% over the 5-year period. Increases were most marked among the three cardiovascular tracers and for related technologies, such as cardiac angiography and cardiac ultrasound. There was evidence that newer technologies partially replaced older diagnostic tests that were used for similar indications: rates of noninvasive cerebrovascular imaging rose while rates of cerebral angiography declined. However, for several common, long-established tests, such as electrocardiogram and chest radiograph, there were consistent increases that are unexplained. High-cost hospitals performed diagnostic tests at much higher rates than lower-cost hospitals in both 1985 and 1990, but the rate of increase in test use across the two study years was generally greater for the lower-cost hospitals.

Mortality probability models for patients in the intensive care unit for 48 or 72 hours: a prospective, multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To develop models in the Mortality Probability Model (MPM II) system to estimate the probability of hospital mortality at 48 and 72 hrs in the intensive care unit (ICU), and to test whether the 24-hr Mortality Probability Model (MPM24), developed for use at 24 hrs in the ICU, can be used on a daily basis beyond 24 hrs. DESIGN: A prospective, multicenter study to develop and validate models, using a cohort of consecutive admissions. SETTING: Six adult medical and surgical ICUs in Massachusetts and New York adjusted to reflect 137 ICUs in 12 countries. PATIENTS: Consecutive admissions (n = 6,290) to the Massachusetts/New York ICUs were studied. Of these patients, 3,023 and 2,233 patients remained in the ICU and had complete data at 48 and 72 hrs, respectively. Patients < 18 yrs of age, burn patients, coronary care patients, and cardiac surgical patients were excluded. OUTCOME MEASURE: Vital status at the time of hospital discharge. RESULTS: The models consist of five variables measured at the time of ICU admission and eight variables ascertained at 24-hr intervals. The 24-hr model demonstrated poor calibration and discrimination at 48 and 72 hrs. The newly developed 48- and 72-hr models--MPM48 and MPM72--contain the same 13 variables and coefficients as the MPM24. The models differ only in their constant terms, which increase in a manner that reflects the increasing probability of mortality with increasing length of stay in the ICU. These constant terms were adjusted by a factor determined from the relationship between the data from the six Massachusetts and New York ICUs and a more extensive data set, from which the ICU admission Mortality Probability Model (MPM0) and MPM24 were developed. This latter data set was assembled from ICUs in 12 countries. The MPM48 and MPM72 calibrated and discriminated well, based on goodness-of-fit tests and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. CONCLUSIONS: Models developed for use among ICU patients at one time period are not transferable without modification to other time periods. The MPM48 and MPM72 calibrated well to their respective time periods, and they are intended for use at specific points in time. The increasing constant terms and associated increase in the probability of hospital mortality exemplify a common clinical adage that if a patient's clinical profile stays the same, he or she is actually getting worse.

Evaluating worksite health programs.

Worksite health enhancement programs utilize screening and early disease detection or risk reduction as health promotion activities. Objectives for these include improving the health and productivity of employees and reducing health care costs. However, critical questions about the effectiveness of programs should be answered before managers initiate these activities. Issues include accuracy of measurement and subject classification, adequate use of comparisons and follow-up in evaluation studies, and evidence of cost effectiveness.

Mortality Probability Models (MPM II) based on an international cohort of intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVE: To revise and update models in the Mortality Probability Model (MPM II) system to estimate the probability of hospital mortality among 19,124 intensive care unit (ICU) patients that can be used for quality assessment within and among ICUs. DESIGN AND SETTING: Models developed and validated on consecutive admissions to adult medical and surgical ICUs in 12 countries. PATIENTS: A total of 12,610 patients for model development, 6514 patients for model validation. Patients younger than 18 years and burn, coronary care, and cardiac surgery patients were excluded. OUTCOME MEASURE: Vital status at hospital discharge. RESULTS: The admission model, MPM0, contains 15 readily obtainable variables. In developmental and validation samples it calibrated well (goodness-of-fit tests: P = .623 and P = .327, respectively, where a high P value represents good fit between observed and expected values) and discriminated well (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.837 and 0.824, respectively). The 24-hour model, MPM24 (developed on 10,357 patients still in the ICU at 24 hours), contains five of the admission variables and eight additional variables easily ascertained at 24 hours. It also calibrated well (P = .764 and P = .231 in the developmental and validation samples, respectively) and discriminated well (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.844 and 0.836 in the developmental and validation samples, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Among severity systems for intensive care patients, the MPM0 is the only model available for use at ICU admission. Both MPM0 and MPM24 are useful research tools and provide important clinical information when used alone or together.

Functional versus structural social support and health care utilization in a family medicine outpatient practice.

Three hundred forty-three family-practice patients were surveyed by questionnaire and medical record audit to evaluate the relationships between social support and medical care utilization. Social support was not associated with laboratory test ordering. The mean number of office visits per year was higher for patients with low versus high confidant support (4.71 vs. 3.81, P less than 0.10) and affective support (5.21 vs. 3.60, P less than 0.05). Mean total charges in 1 year were higher for patients with low versus high confidant support ($232 vs. $148, P less than 0.05) and affective support ($244 vs. $154, P less than 0.05). Poor confidant and affective support were both associated with longer visits. Structural measures of social support were not related significantly to any utilization indicator. These findings were maintained in multiple-regression models controlling for physical health and seven demographic characteristics. Second-order regression models revealed interaction by race, employment status, and sex. Blacks showed no effect of confidant support on office visits. Poor confidant support resulted in $201 more in total charges for the unemployed (P = 0.003) versus $49 more for the employed (P = 0.15). Women with low affective support had $119 more in charges (P = 0.001) versus $16 less for men (P = 0.82). The results suggest that low functional social supports are important determinants of increased medical service utilization and that they may have differential effects by race, sex, and employment status, all of which should be considered independently in future studies.

Caregivers and elderly relatives. The prevalence of caregiving in a family practice.

Persons 65 years and older are the most rapidly growing age group in the United States. As age increases, functional ability deteriorates and the need for help from another person escalates. Caring for elderly persons experiencing functional deterioration is stressful, creating hidden patients among caregivers. This study surveyed randomly selected active family practice patients 40 years and older to determine the prevalence and extent of the caregiving role and functional disability among elderly relatives. One in five patients (126/602) surveyed had caregiving responsibilities for noninstitutionalized relatives (total, 153 patients). One third of caregivers lived with the relative; most of the remaining two thirds visited their relative at least twice weekly. Caregivers reported some functional impairment in 60% of their relatives, and substantial impairment in 40%. The caregiving experience is common, and the potential for stress from managing an elderly relative's disability is substantial. Further research is needed to elaborate on the burden of the caregiver.

Fever in children younger than three months of age. A pooled analysis.

Concern that febrile infants younger than 3 months of age are at high risk of serious infection has prompted a management policy of routine hospitalization with antibiotic administration. Ten published studies of febrile infants younger than 3 months of age were reviewed, and data were statistically combined to develop estimates of the risk of bacteremia and serious infection. Factors that predicted increased risk were similarly evaluated. Mean and median risk estimates included, respectively, 3.0 and 3.4 percent for bacteremia, 1.3 and 1.0 percent for septic meningitis, and 5.0 and 7.0 percent for pneumonia. These were no higher than comparable estimates for older infants. Clinical appearance was 92 percent sensitive in predicting bacteremia in 500 infants (23 of 25 cases). Younger age, higher fever, and elevated white blood cell count were associated with increased risk of serious infection. Data from these studies do not support the belief that febrile infants younger than 3 months are uniformly at greater risk of serious infection than older infants. Judicious evaluation of younger infants could lead to more selective, cost-efficient management.

Effect of prepaid health plans on a family practice residency.

The rapid growth of prepaid health care plans imposes clinical, financial, and educational changes on residency programs. In the study reported here, the authors examined some perceived and actual effects of such plans on a family medicine center associated with a family medicine residency training program. In the study, 37 residents and 19 faculty members completed a 5-point, 16-item survey covering the effect of the prepaid plans used at the center on the program's practice profile, cost-containment efforts, and education activities over a three-year period. Overall, the respondents agreed with the need for cost containment that accompanied participation in the prepaid plan and agreed that prepaid plans increased the number of patient visits and visits by family members. The residents and faculty members agreed that prepaid patients were more demanding and were seen more often for minor or inappropriate problems. Regarding the educational impact of the prepaid plans, the respondents agreed that they improved their clinical decision-making, and no significant concern regarding limitation of laboratory or consultations was noted. Some of the respondents' perceptions were corroborated by findings in the clinic data base that showed increased numbers of patient visits, more visits by members of the same family, and no significant change in outpatient consultation rates.

The Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire. Measurement of social support in family medicine patients.

A 14-item, self-administered, multidimensional, functional social support questionnaire was designed and evaluated on 401 patients attending a family medicine clinic. Patients were selected from randomized time-frame sampling blocks during regular office hours. The population was predominantly white, female, married, and under age 45. Eleven items remained after test-retest reliability was assessed over a 1- to 4-week follow-up period. Factor analysis and item remainder analysis reduced the remaining 11 items to a brief and easy-to-complete two-scale, eight-item functional social support instrument. Construct validity, concurrent validity, and discriminant validity are demonstrated for the two scales (confidant support--five items and affective support--three items). Factor analysis and correlations with other measures of social support suggest that the three remaining items (visits, instrumental support, and praise) are distinct entities that may need further study.

Bacterial diseases of the colon.

Acute diarrhea of bacterial origin is discussed for seven enteric pathogens, and specific antimicrobial therapy based on positive identification is stressed. Selection of patients with self-limited disease not requiring antimicrobial therapy is emphasized in order to avoid costly laboratory tests. The role of daycare facilities in the spread of enteric pathogens in this country is discussed. This article includes a review of newer methods for treating infants and children with oral rehydration and rapid refeeding.

Family practice residents' evaluation of a competency-based psychiatry curriculum.

The authors report the formal evaluation of a competency-based curriculum in psychiatry in a family practice residency program at a community hospital five years after the program was implemented. In interviews, the 35 residents in the program in 1985 responded to a questionnaire on their understanding of and attitude toward the requirements of the competencies and the difficulties they encountered in documenting the competencies. All but two of the residents were aware of the nature of the curriculum, but only 43 percent had completed one or more of the 15 required competencies. The residents' attitude toward the requirements of demonstrating specific competencies in psychiatry during the residency were generally negative, although they were favorable toward required competencies in other disciplines. The results of the present study identify specific problems in implementing such a curriculum. Successful implementation may have been impeded by the novelty of the new educational format and a lack of reinforcement by faculty members.