Does having regular care by a family physician improve preventive care?

OBJECTIVE To assess whether regular care from a family physician is associated with receiving preventive services.

DESIGN Secondary analysis of the 1994 National Population Health Survey.

SETTING Cross-sectional sample of the Canadian population.

PARTICIPANTS A total of 15,731 non-institutionalized adults.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Reported visits to general practitioners and specialists in the previous year and reports of having had blood pressure measurements, mammography, and Pap smears.

RESULTS A graded relationship was observed between level of regular care by a family physician in the previous year (none, some, regular) and receiving preventive services. Those without regular doctors and those reporting only some care by a family physician were less likely to have ever had their blood pressure checked than adults receiving ongoing care from a regular family physician. Women reporting some or no care were less likely to have had mammography within 2 years or to have ever had Pap smears.

CONCLUSION Adults who receive regular care from a family physician are more likely to receive recommended preventive services.