Table of contents

  • Preliminary material 
    • Title page and verso
    • Contents
    • Foreword
    • List of tables
    • List of figures
    • Acknowledgements
    • Summary
  • Sections 
    1. Introduction
      • Background
      • Aims
    2. Methods
      • BEACH methods
      • Statistical methods
      • The final data sets
    3. Changes over time in GP pathology ordering rates
      • Changes in total pathology ordering rates over time
      • Changes in pathology ordering rates over time excluding Pap smears
    4. Changes over time in the characteristics of GPs
      • Changes in the characteristics of BEACH participants over time
      • Changes in the characteristics of GPs in the national sample frame over time
    5. GP characteristics and pathology ordering rates
      • Pathology test rates over all encounters and all problems
      • Pathology test ordering rates after the decision to order pathology
      • Summary of findings
      • Do any changes in GP age and sex over time explain the increase in pathology test orders over the same period?
    6. The purpose for which pathology tests are ordered
      • Distribution and rates of pathology tests by class
      • The proportion of problems tested in each class
      • Discussion
    7. Pathology ordering and problems managed
      • Pathology test ordering rates for selected problems over time
      • Problems most likely to generate 4 or 5 test orders, over time
    8. The relationship between pathology ordering and other management
      • The relationship between pathology ordering and prescribing
      • The relationship between imaging and pathology ordering
      • The relationship between therapeutic procedures and pathology orders over time
      • The relationship between provision of clinical treatments and pathology ordering
      • Conclusion
    9. The relationship between length of consultation and pathology ordering
      • Pathology ordering and Medicare item number recorded
      • Length of consultation (in minutes) and pathology ordering rates
    10. Analysis of variance in pathology ordering rates
      • Univariate analysis
      • Multiple regression modelling
    11. Discussion
    12. Conclusion
  • End matter 
    • References
    • Glossary
    • Abbreviations
    • Appendices
      • Appendix 1: Example of a recording form (1998-99)
      • Appendix 2: GP characteristics questionnaire (1998-99)
      • Appendix 3: Code groups from ICPC-2 and ICPC-2 PLUS used in this report