Supplementary Table 4.
Clinical Decision Making, Time with Patients, and Continuity and Coordination Among Medical and Surgical Surgical Physicians, 1997-2001


 
1997
1999
2001
Percent of physicians who agree that they.
Have the freedom to
make clinical
decisions that meet
patients’ needs		 Medical
74.1
80.2*
87.5*#
Surgical
71.2
72.2
83.1*#
All
72.7
76.7*
85.7*#
Can make clinical
decisions in the best
interest of patients
without reducing income		 Medical
69.5
72.9*
82.1*#
Surgical
67.5
67.9
76.2*#
All
68.6
70.7*
79.6*#
Have adequate time to
spend with patients
during typical visits		 Medical
70.3
64.7*
65.0#
Surgical
75.9
68.6*
69.6#
All
73.0
66.4*
67.0#
Can maintain continuing
relationships with patients
to promote quality care		 Medical
58.0
65.7*
73.5*#
Surgical
57.7
60.6
72.6*#
All
57.9
63.3*
73.1*#

Estimates in bold text are significantly different from those for surgical specialists

* Change from previous survey is statistically significant at p<.05.

# Change from 1997-2001 is statistically significant at p<.05.