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Richard C Wender

Publications and source records attributed to Richard C Wender.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Do physicians in Delaware follow national guidelines for tobacco counseling?

BACKGROUND: Despite national guidelines, studies across the country have shown that many physicians do not regularly engage in tobacco cessation behaviors such as assisting their patients with quitting. This survey study examined tobacco cessation behaviors among physicians in Delaware as part of the state's tobacco control program called Plan for a Tobacco-Free Delaware. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all Delaware physicians in primary care and specialties that manage tobacco-related illnesses (cardiology, pulmonology, and allergy) in May of 2002 (n=890). RESULTS: Of the 156 survey respondents, most physicians reported regularly asking their adolescent patients (57.3%) and their adult patients (65.4%) about smoking and advising their smoking patients to quit (84%). Most physicians do not regularly assist patients in quitting (17.6%) or arrange follow-up (28.1%). Also, most physicians do not regularly prescribe nicotine replacement (12.9%) or bupropion (10.7%), nor do they regularly give written materials to help in quitting (16.3%) or refer patients to smoking cessation programs (14.7%). CONCLUSIONS: While most physicians in Delaware ask their patients about smoking and advise them to quit, most physicians do not adequately assist their smoking patients in accordance with national guidelines. Reasons include lack of time, lack of quick and easy tools to help patients quit, and inadequate reimbursement for physicians' tobacco cessation activities and medications. This article suggests ways that the state can assist physicians with tobacco cessation that can be incorporated into the Plan for a Tobacco-Free Delaware. In particular, ensuring adequate and universal reimbursement for physician visits related to tobacco cessation, for tobacco cessation programs, and for tobacco cessation medications is essential to increasing physician involvement in tobacco cessation activities.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Cancer screening.

Table 3 provides a summary of key recommendations for each cancer site discussed in this chapter. One of the unifying principles of cancer screening is that every clinician or group practice needs to define an explicit screening policy. Resources must then be devoted to implementing this policy, evaluating adherence, and improving performance.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Barriers to screening for colorectal cancer.

Rapidly growing interest in colon cancer screening is a crucial first step to identifying and reducing many of the barriers that impede population screening for this common disease. Promoting screening demands health care policy change to increase the percentage of Americans with insurance coverage that includes a colon cancer screening benefit. A systematic approach to screening with invitations that come from a clinician are likely to be the most effective way to prompt more individuals to be screened. Awareness campaigns and patient educational aids, including decision tools, implemented in multiple sites, such as worksites, community centers, health care systems, and physician offices, increase the percent of eligible Americans who understand their personal risk, the need for screening, and the options available to them.

Barium Sulfate↗