Ob-Gyn Preventive Care Often Skips General Services

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn) preventive care visits include more reproductive-related services and fewer other general services for reproductive-aged women, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in Health Services Research.

Laura Attanasio, Ph.D., from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and colleagues examined services delivered during preventive care visits among reproductive-age women with and without chronic conditions by physician specialty. The analysis included data from female, nonpregnant participants (aged 18 to 44 years) in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys (2011 to 2018).

The researchers found that in ob-gyn preventive visits, reproductive health services were more likely to be provided, while nonreproductive health services were less likely to be provided, both among reproductive-age female patients overall and among those with chronic conditions. In nearly half of ob-gyn preventive visits (44.5 percent), Pap tests were provided compared with 21.4 percent of generalist preventive visits. In contrast, lipid testing was provided in 2.8 percent of ob-gyn preventive visits versus 30.3 percent of generalist preventive visits.

“Understanding the full range of care received in preventive visits across settings could guide recommendations to optimize where reproductive-age women with chronic conditions seek care,” the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text