In a survey of physicians from five different locations around the United States and Canada,1 we determined that there were great differences in attitudes between physicians from different regions as well as between physicians from different specialties. We conducted another survey of physicians at our medical center (one of the study sites from the earlier study) to determine whether physicians' diagnostic approach and therapy varied by specialty or years of experience and if these have changed since a survey in 1979.
METHODS
In May 1983, 500 questionnaires were distributed to the attending physicians and house officers of North Carolina Baptist Hospital (NCBH), Winston-Salem. The physicians, representing all specialties, were invited to complete and return the questionnaire (Table 1). A cover letter was sent with each questionnaire that explained the purpose of the study and that each respondent would be sent a synopsis of the results. This cover letter