The periodic health examination: comparison of recommendations and internists' performance.

In this paper we bring together recommendations from three expert sources for preventive care by periodic health examination of adults. We compare these recommendations with care items considered essential for such examinations, and those actually performed by a panel of practicing internists. We found substantial differences among the expert groups and between the experts and the practicing internists in their perceptions of essential care items. Overall, 59% of items recommended by any of the expert groups were found in the internists' records. We suggest that the periodic examination serves a purpose in addition to screening for disease; that the screening function need not be performed annually; that awareness and practice of proven beneficial components of such examinations be increased among practitioners; and that a better consensus on recommendations for preventive care be developed.