Physicians' Perspectives of a Therapeutic Conversion within a Staff-model HMO

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify perspectives of primary care physicians in a staff-model health maintenance organization (HMO) concerning a therapeutic conversion program conducted for the drug class HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. DESIGN: Multi-site, observational study. SETTING: 11 ambulatory care medical practices within a staff-model HMO serving 100,000 patients in the midwestern United States. PARTICIPANTS: 25 adult medicine physicians specializing in internal medicine or family practice. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physicians' perspectives of 13 components of the Lescol (fluvastatin) therapeutic conversion program as measured by a Likerttype scale. RESULTS: Means were used to quantify the overall response for each item. Findings indicated that the program rationale was clear, the supporting communications were useful, the inconveniences were slight, the patient feedback was neutral, and, on average, any clinical concerns about Lescol were insignificant. CONCLUSION: The responding physicians were not displeased with...