The Annual Physical Examination: Needless Ritual or Necessary Routine?

Editorials7 May 2002The Annual Physical Examination: Needless Ritual or Necessary Routine?Christine Laine, MD, MPH, Senior Deputy EditorChristine Laine, MD, MPH, Senior Deputy EditorSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-136-9-200205070-00013 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Imagine that a 45-year-old married, premenopausal woman with no chronic or acute medical problems, unremarkable family history, normal cholesterol level 2 years ago, and no tobacco use presents to you requesting an “annual physical.” You ask whether she drinks alcohol, feels depressed, or has HIV risk factors. She does not. Your assistant has recorded the patient's blood pressure (normal) and weight (10 lbs over ideal). You examine the patient's breasts and pelvis while counseling her to lose 10 lbs, wear seatbelts, take calcium, and visit a dentist regularly. As you leave the room, you tell her to come back in ...References1. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.. Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Report of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. 2nd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1996. Google Scholar2. 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. LinkGoogle Scholar3. Dobell H. Lectures on the Germs and Vestiges of Disease, and on the Prevention of the Invasion and Fatality of Disease by Periodical Examinations. London: Churchill; 1861:142-63. Google Scholar4. Han PK. Historical changes in the objectives of the periodic health examination. Ann Intern Med. 1997;127:910-7. [PMID: 9382370] LinkGoogle Scholar5. Charap MH. The periodic health examination: genesis of a myth. 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[PMID: 9752372] MedlineGoogle Scholar15. Freedman A, Pimlott N, Naglie G. Preventive care for the elderly. Do family physicians comply with recommendations of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care? Can Fam Physician. 2000;46:350-7. [PMID: 10690491] MedlineGoogle Scholar16. Stone EG, Morton SC, Hulscher ME, Maglione MA, Roth EA, Grimshaw JM, et al . Interventions that increase use of adult immunization and cancer screening services: a meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:641-51. LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Current Author Address: Christine Laine, MD, MPH, American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine, 190 N. Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106; e-mail, [email protected]org. 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 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 Caroline Poplin Public Expectation for Annual Physical Examinations Kei Mukohara Public Expectation for Annual Physical Examinations Sylvia K. Oboler , Allan V. Prochazka , and Robert J. Anderson Annual Physical Examination: Necessary or Needless? 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Oboler, MD, Allan V. Prochazka, MD, and Robert J. Anderson, MDThe Value of the Periodic Executive Health Examination: Experience at Bank One and Summary of the Literature 7 May 2002Volume 136, Issue 9Page: 701-703KeywordsBloodCancer preventionCancer screeningHealth promotionHeartLungsPreventive medicineResearch laboratoriesScreening guidelinesThorax ePublished: 7 May 2002 Issue Published: 7 May 2002 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...