Preventive care checklist form. Evidence-based tool to improve preventive health care during complete health assessment of adults.

PROBLEM ADDRESSED: Preventive care is a cornerstone in the practice of family medicine, but is often difficult to provide because of a lack of time and logistic difficulties. OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM: To develop an evidence-based practice-relevant preventive care checklist form to be used by family physicians during complete health assessment of adults. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Guidelines for preventive health care of adults at average risk from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care and from other Canadian sources where the Task Force guidelines were not up-to-date were reviewed. Checklist forms covering recommended preventive health care maneuvers were created. The forms incorporate evidence-based preventive care guidelines as well as non-evidence-based components that are a part of routine practice. The forms require few resources to implement, are cost-effective, and are easy to use. The forms list items needed to meet provincial billing requirements for complete health assessments and have space for physicians to make notes. The forms can be used electronically or printed off and photocopied for use in paper-based charts.
CONCLUSION: The Preventive Care Checklist Form is a low-cost, easy-to-use tool that merges practice maneuvers with evidence-based recommendations. It could help improve preventive care practices in Canada.