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Previous Volume 300:535-537 March 8, 1979 Number 10 Next

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Abstract

To assess the potential effect of self-care algorithms on the number of physician visits, actual visits from the Seattle Virus Watch were compared retrospectively with those recommended by clinical algorithms for common illnesses from the book, Take Care of Yourself, by Vickery and Fries. From a total of 3929 illnesses, records indicating the presence of the index symptom for eight algorithms were identified, determining whether the criteria for seeing a physician were met and whether a physician visit was recorded. The number of visits observed was compared to the number of visits recommended by the algorithms. Strict adherence would have increased the number of visits over that observed for five, remained the same for two, and decreased for one of the algorithms. These results indicate that adherence to some commonly promulgated self-care algorithms may increase rather than decrease the number of physician visits.

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• RODIN, J. (1989). Sense of Control: Potentials for Intervention. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 503: 29-42 [Abstract]  
• Rodin, J (1986). Aging and health: effects of the sense of control. Science 233: 1271-1276 [Abstract]