Table 3.
Primary Care Physician Perceptions and Practices in Pulmonary Nodule Management by Specialty
| Family Practitioners N = 112 (45%) |
Internists N = 136 (54%) |
P Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| When a lung nodule is detected on CXR or CT, I feel confident managing the workup. | Agree | 51 (46) | 82 (63) | 0.041 |
| Disagree | 40 (36) | 33 (25) | ||
| Neutral | 19 (17) | 16 (12) | ||
| I prefer to manage the lung nodule evaluation and the follow-up myself rather than to have a specialist do so. | Agree | 18 (16) | 31 (23) | 0.41 |
| Disagree | 71 (65) | 79 (59) | ||
| Neutral | 21 (19) | 23 (17) | ||
| I most commonly refer a patient with a pulmonary nodule or mass to a pulmonologist for evaluation. | Agree | 84 (77) | 99 (74) | 0.58 |
| Disagree | 19 (17) | 22 (17) | ||
| Neutral | 6 (6) | 12 (9) | ||
| I most commonly refer a patient with a pulmonary nodule or mass to a surgeon for evaluation. | Agree | 29 (26) | 41 (31) | 0.54 |
| Disagree | 62 (56) | 75 (56) | ||
| Neutral | 19 (17) | 17 (13) | ||
| I most commonly refer a patient with a pulmonary nodule or mass to an oncologist for evaluation. | Agree | 24 (22) | 33 (25) | 0.68 |
| Disagree | 73 (67) | 82 (62) | ||
| Neutral | 12 (11) | 18 (14) |
Results do not include “not answered” or missing responses.
“Agree” includes all somewhat agree and strongly agree responses.
“Disagree” includes all somewhat disagree and strongly disagree responses.