Public Expectation for Annual Physical Examinations
Authors: Caroline Poplin
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Letters5 November 2002Public Expectation for Annual Physical ExaminationsCaroline Poplin, MD, JDCaroline Poplin, MD, JDBethesda, MD 20816Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-137-9-200211050-00021 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Oboler and colleagues (1) and Laine (2) make a persuasive case that many patients value an annual physical examination, including auscultation of the heart and lungs and blood tests, even though there is little objective evidence that it significantly improves one's health. Perhaps, as Laine (2) suggests, we need a more sophisticated evaluation of subtle benefits. But should we then include the cost of chasing the false-positive results predicted by the Bayes theorem for conditions that are rare in an asymptomatic population?Even if routine examinations have real value, that does not mean insurance should pay for ...References1. Oboler SK, Prochazka AV, Gonzales R, Xu S, Anderson RJ. Public expectations and attitudes for annual physical examinations and testing. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:652-9. [PMID: 11992300] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Laine C. The annual physical examination: needless ritual or necessary routine? [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:701-3. [PMID: 11992306] LinkGoogle Scholar3. Poplin C. Everybody into the pool! Medicare in the twenty-first century. J Health Soc Policy. 1997;9:49-60. [PMID: 10174378] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Connolly C. The wealth care system. The Washington Post. 28 May 2002, Section F, p 1. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Caroline Poplin, MD, JDAffiliations: Bethesda, MD 20816 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoInterventions That Increase Use of Adult Immunization and Cancer Screening Services Erin G. Stone , Sally C. Morton , Marlies E. Hulscher , Margaret A. Maglione , Elizabeth A. Roth , Jeremy M. Grimshaw , Brian S. Mittman , Lisa V. Rubenstein , Laurence Z. Rubenstein , and Paul G. Shekelle The Annual Physical Examination: Needless Ritual or Necessary Routine? Christine Laine Reversibility of Cirrhosis in Patients Cured of Thalassemia by Bone Marrow Transplantation Pietro Muretto , Emanuele Angelucci , and Guido Lucarelli Public Expectations and Attitudes for Annual Physical Examinations and Testing Sylvia K. Oboler , Allan V. Prochazka , Ralph Gonzales , Stanley Xu , and Robert J. Anderson Public Expectation for Annual Physical Examinations Kei Mukohara Public Expectation for Annual Physical Examinations Sylvia K. Oboler , Allan V. Prochazka , and Robert J. Anderson Public Expectation for Annual Physical Examinations Marvin S. Wool Metrics Cited byCancer screening and the periodic health examination 5 November 2002Volume 137, Issue 9Page: 773KeywordsAuscultationBayesian methodHealth insuranceHeartHematologic testsLungsMotivationNursesPrevention, policy, and public healthSmoking cessation ePublished: 5 November 2002 Issue Published: 5 November 2002 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...