Table 2 Summary of included study characteristics and clinical behaviours measured

Stange[5]

1998

1. Family practice physicians

2. Members of the Ohio Academy of FPs, practice within 50 miles radius of Cleveland & Youngstown

3. Convenience sample

1. Delivery of a range of outpatient medical services

2. Counselling (29), physical examination (16), screening (5), Lab tests (10), immunisation (7), Referral (4)

Flocke[6]

2004

1. Family physicians

2. Primary care physicians in North West Ohio

3. All physicians approached

1. Health promotion

2. Smoking (2), alcohol, exercise, diet, substance use, sun exposure, seatbelt use, HIV & STD prevention

Wilson[7]

1994

1. General practitioners (GPs)

2. 10 general practices in Nottinghamshire

3. Selection of GPs not reported. Minimum of two non-random consultations were recorded

1. Health promotion

2. Asked patient about 4 health behaviours: smoking (1), alcohol (1), diet & exercise (1); measurement of blood pressure (1)

Ward[8]

1996

1. Post-graduate trainees

2. Training general practices in New South Wales

3. Trainees who were having their first experience in supervised general practice

1. Smoking cessation

2. Establish smoking status & provide smoking cessation counselling (2)

Zuckerman[9]

1975

1. Paediatricians

2. Physicians working in a university medical centre serving an inner-city population

3. All 3 staff physicians

1. Paediatric consultation

2. Diagnosis and management (8), historical items (7)

Luck[10]

2000

1. Primary care physicians

2. 2 general internal medicine primary care outpatient clinics

3. Random sample of 10 physicians at each site

1. Management of LBP, DM, COPD, CAD.

2. History, Physical exam, Tests ordered, Diagnosis & Treatment/management (21 for LBP)

Page[11]

1980

1. Community pharmacists

2. Participants on a continuing education course in British Columbia, Canada

3. All participants

1. Management of: Cold, Pain

2. Recommend either: non-prescription medication (cold = 17, pain = 15) or see physician (cold = 17, pain = 18)

Gerbert[12]

1988

1. Primary care physicians

2. Primary care physicians serving 6 counties in California

3. Convenience sample

1. Medication regimens in the management of COPD

2. Prescription of theophyllines (1), sympathomimetics (2), oral corticosteroids (1)

Pbert[13]

1999

1. Primary care physicians 2. Attending physicians & their patients at University medical centre in Massachusetts.

3. Convenience sample

1. Smoking cessation

2. Cessation counselling (15)

Gerbert[14]

1986

1. Primary care physicians

2. NR

3. Convenience sample

1. Management of COPD

2. Symptoms (8), signs (2), Tests (3), Treatments (3), Patient education (4)

Dresselhaus[15]

2000

1. Primary care physicians

2. 2 general internal medicine primary care outpatient clinics

3. Random sample of 10 physicians at each site

1. Management of low back pain, diabetes mellitus, COPD, CAD.

2. Preventive care: tobacco screening (1), smoking cessation advice (1), prevention measures (1), alcohol screening (1), diet evaluation (1), exercise assessment (1) & exercise advice (1)

Rethans[16]

1987

1. GPs

2. GPs working in Maastricht

3. All participants

1. Management of Urinary Tract Infection

2. History taking (8); Physical Examination (3); Instructions to patients (7); Treatment (2); Follow-up (4)

Rethans[17]

1994

1. GPs

2. Sampling strategy reported elsewhere.

3. Sampling strategy reported elsewhere

1. Management of tension headache; acute diarrhoea; pain in the shoulder; check-up for non-insulin dependent diabetes.

2. History, Physical exam, Lab exam, Advice, Medication & follow-up (range over 4 conditions: 25–36)

Peabody[18]

2000

1. Primary care physicians

2. 2 general internal medicine primary care outpatient clinics

3. Random sample of 10 physicians at each site

1. Management of low back pain (LBP), diabetes mellitus (DM), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) oronary artery disease (CAD).

2. History taking (7), Physical examination (3), lab tests (5), Diagnosis(2), Management (6) (Averaged 21 actions per case)

O'Boyle[19]

2001

1. Nurses

2. ICU staff in 4 metropolitan teaching hospitals in "Mid-West" USA

3. ICUs with comparable patient populations

120

1. Adherence to hand hygiene recommendations 2. Hand washing (for a maximum of 10 indications)