A new study finds that doctors are largely ignoring evidence that annual physicals for healthy patients are of limited use. The study, which was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine yesterday, found little willingness on the part of physicians to change their ways. Sixty-five percent of primary care doctors surveyed said they still think the exams are necessary and 9-out-of-10 say they still perform the annual checkups. The study's authors also asked doctors around the country what tests they ordered for patients. Some experts have questioned the use of annual urine, blood-sugar and thyroid tests, arguing they can be wasteful and redundant.
- see this story from the Boston Globe