One In Three Medical Doctors Unlikely To Get Routine Medical Care, Including Flu Shots

According to the results of a recent study published in the November 27, 2000 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, one-third of MDs are unlikely to follow the advice given to patients of routine checkups and flu shorts. A survey of 915 physicians by the Hopkins team, showed that 312 (34 percent) said they had no regular source of medical care. Those in the study that did not get medical care did so because they thought that regular medical attention was unnecessary.

The study did show that as a group doctors were more interested in prevention than the general public. The report illustrated that of those who were studied, 28 percent, had no medical care at all, while 7 percent treated themselves. Approximately 43 percent had an independent physician as their main source of care, while 18 percent saw a colleague in their own medical practice. Not having a regular medical doctor was unrelated to either age or gender. There was, however, a wide variation based on practicing specialty. The range was from 21 percent among psychiatrists to 46 percent among pathologists. Internists were the most likely to engage in self-treatment.