scholarly journals Collaboration of primary care and public health at the local level: observational descriptive study of French local health contracts

Author(s):  
Candan Kendir ◽  
Eric Breton ◽  
Yann Le Bodo ◽  
Yann Bourgueil

Abstract Aim: In this paper, we report on a study investigating the involvement of primary care providers in French local health contracts. Background: Worldwide actions are carried out to improve collaboration between primary care and public health to strengthen primary healthcare and consequently community health. In France, the local health contract is an instrument mobilising local stakeholders from different sectors to join in their actions to improve the health of the population. Methods: We developed an instrument to analyse the frequency and nature of involvement of primary care providers in 428 action plans extracted from a sample of 17 contracts (one per French region). The number of primary care actions were counted, and thematic analyses were conducted to identify the nature and level of involvement of the professionals. Findings: Primary care providers were involved in 20.1% (n = 86) of the action plans and were mostly described as a target of the action rather than leaders or partners. Within those action plans, 76.7% (n = 66) of these action plans aimed to improve access to care for local communities; an issue that appears as the main driver of collaboration between public health and primary care actors.

2017 ◽  
Vol 132 (6) ◽  
pp. 609-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia Greiner Safi ◽  
Jamie Perin ◽  
Andrea Mantsios ◽  
Christina Schumacher ◽  
C. Patrick Chaulk ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction with, and the feasibility and effectiveness of, a public health detailing project focused on increasing routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening of people aged 13-64 by primary care providers working in areas of Baltimore City, Maryland, with high rates of HIV transmission (defined as a mean geometric viral load of ≥1500 copies/mL per census tract). In public health detailing, trained public health professionals (ie, detailers) visit medical practice sites to meet with providers and site staff members, with the intention of influencing changes in clinical practice policy and/or behavior. During 2014, detailers made personal visits and gave HIV Testing Action Kits containing maps, educational and guideline documents, and resource lists to 166 providers and office managers at 85 primary care sites. At follow-up, 88 of 91 (96.7%) providers and 37 of 38 (97.4%) clinic managers were very satisfied or satisfied with the project. Of the 79 sites eligible at follow-up (ie, those that had not closed or merged with another practice), 76 (96.2%) had accepted at least 1 HIV Testing Action Kit, and 67 of 90 (74.4%) providers had increased their HIV screening. Public health detailing projects can be used to educate and support providers, establish relationships between providers and local health departments, and disseminate public health messages.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fitriana Murriya Ekawati ◽  
Ova Emilia ◽  
Jane Gunn ◽  
Sharon Licqurish ◽  
Phyllis Lau

Abstract Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are the leading cause of maternal mortality in Indonesia. Focused HDP management pathways for Indonesian primary care practice have been developed from a consensus development process. However, the acceptability and feasibility of the pathways in practice have not been explored. This study reports on the implementation process of the pathways to determine their acceptability and feasibility in Indonesian practice. Methods The pathways were implemented in three public primary care clinics (Puskesmas) in Yogyakarta province for a month, guided by implementation science frameworks of Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Practical Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM). The participating providers (general practitioners (GPs), midwives, and nurses) were asked to use recommendations in the pathways for a month. The pathway implementation evaluations were then conducted using clinical audits and a triangulation of observations, focus groups (FGs), and interviews with all of the participants. Clinical audit data were analysed descriptively, and qualitative data were analysed using a mix of the inductive-deductive approach of thematic analysis. Results A total of 50 primary care providers, four obstetricians, a maternal division officer in the local health office and 61 patients agreed to participate, and 48 of the recruited participants participated in evaluation FGs or interviews. All of the providers in the Puskesmas attempted to apply recommendations from the pathways to various degrees, mainly adopting preeclampsia risk factor screenings and HDP monitoring. The participants expressed that the recommendations empowered their practice when it came to HDP management. However, their practices were challenged by professional boundaries and hierarchical barriers among health care professionals, limited clinical resources, and regulations from the local health office. Suggestions for future scale-up studies were also mentioned, such as involving champion obstetricians and providing more patient education toolkits. Conclusion The HDP management pathways are acceptable and feasible in Indonesian primary care. A further scale-up study is desired and can be initiated with investigations to minimise the implementation challenges and enhance the pathways’ value in primary care practice.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e045997
Author(s):  
Abhijit Pakhare ◽  
Ankur Joshi ◽  
Rasha Anwar ◽  
Khushbu Dubey ◽  
Sanjeev Kumar ◽  
...  

ObjectivesHypertension and diabetes mellitus are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Once identified with these conditions, individuals need to be linked to primary healthcare system for initiation of lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy and maintenance of therapies to achieve optimal blood pressure and glycaemic control. In the current study, we evaluated predictors and barriers for non-linkage to primary-care public health facilities for CVD risk reduction.MethodsWe conducted a community-based longitudinal study in 16 urban slum clusters in central India. Community health workers (CHWs) in each urban slum cluster screened all adults, aged 30 years or more for hypertension and diabetes, and those positively screened were sought to be linked to urban primary health centres (UPHCs). We performed univariate and multivariate analysis to identify independent predictors for non-linkage to primary-care providers. We conducted in-depth assessment in 10% of all positively screened, to identify key barriers that potentially prevented linkages to primary-care facilities.ResultsOf 6174 individuals screened, 1451 (23.5%; 95% CI 22.5 to 24.6) were identified as high risk and required linkage to primary-care facilities. Out of these, 544 (37.5%) were linked to public primary-care facilities and 259 (17.8%) to private providers. Of the remaining, 506 (34.9%) did not get linked to any provider and 142 (9.8%) defaulted after initial linkages (treatment interrupters). On multivariate analysis, as compared with those linked to public primary-care facilities, those who were not linked had age less than 45 years (OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.3 to 3.5)), were in lowest wealth quintile (OR 1.8 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.9), resided beyond a kilometre from UPHC (OR 1.7 (95% CI 1.2 to 2.4) and were engaged late by CHWs (OR 2.6 (95% CI 1.8 to 3.7)). Despite having comparable knowledge level, denial about their risk status and lack of family support were key barriers in this group.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates feasibility of CHW-based strategy in promoting linkages to primary-care facilities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M s Kendir ◽  
Mr Le Bodo ◽  
M r Breton ◽  
M r Bourgueil

Abstract The demographic and epidemiological changes orient health care services towards communities with a focus on prevention and health promotion. Moreover, in France, the rapid decline of General Practitioners affect access to care in certain areas. Thus, it has made a call for interaction of primary care (PC) services and public health which can be strengthened by the actions at the local level. In 2009, the local health contracts (Contract local de santé; CLS) were developed to foster collaborative actions on the social determinants of health and to improve access to care. Considering the critical contribution of PC in these issues, one may ask how CLS mobilized PC and facilitate linkages between actions oriented toward population and primary care. The objective of this ancillary study (part of the CloterreS project), is to explore how often and how CLS involve PC in access to care and public health related actions. A mixed-method study based on document analysis, with a random sample of 17 CLSs (N = 165) from all French regions, was developed. A quantitative analysis of the 440 forms identified in 17 CLS computed frequency of involvement of PC actors and/or PC organizations and a qualitative analysis defined typology of interactions. All CLS and 20.1% (n = 86) of the forms involved PC actors and 43.2% (n = 185) concerned access to care. Of the access to care forms, 35.7% (n = 66) concerned PC. The most common strategies related to actions on the health workforce and on planning of services. The role of primary care professionals was as the target of the action and rarely as leader and partner. PC, mostly GP’s involvement, had a big place and access to care was at the core of local health contracts. The impact of CLS as an instrument to invite interaction public health and healthcare at the local level should be further assessed. Key messages Many of the local access to care actions involved primary care professionals. The local level appears strategic to integrate public health and health services yet more evidence is needed on its role.


2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (S3) ◽  
pp. S342-S352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle G. Dresser ◽  
Leslie Short ◽  
Laura Wedemeyer ◽  
Victoria Lowerson Bredow ◽  
Rachel Sacks ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhee Lee ◽  
Thomas F. Kresina ◽  
Melinda Campopiano ◽  
Robert Lubran ◽  
H. Westley Clark

Substance-related and addictive disorders are chronic relapsing conditions that substantially impact public health. Effective treatments for these disorders require addressing substance use/dependence comprehensively as well as other associated comorbidities. Comprehensive addressing of substance use in a medical setting involves screening for substance use, addressing substance use directly with the patient, and formulating an appropriate intervention. For alcohol dependence and opioid dependence, pharmacotherapies are available that are safe and effective when utilized in a comprehensive treatment paradigm, such as medication assisted treatment. In primary care, substance use disorders involving alcohol, illicit opioids, and prescription opioid abuse are common among patients who seek primary care services. Primary care providers report low levels of preparedness and confidence in identifying substance-related and addictive disorders and providing appropriate care and treatment. However, new models of service delivery in primary care for individuals with substance-related and addictive disorders are being developed to promote screening, care and treatment, and relapse prevention. The education and training of primary care providers utilizing approved medications for the treatment of alcohol use disorders and opioid dependence in a primary care setting would have important public health impact and reduce the burden of alcohol abuse and opioid dependence.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre Q Andrade ◽  
Jean-Pierre Calabretto ◽  
Nicole L Pratt ◽  
Lisa M Kalisch-Ellett ◽  
Vanessa T LeBlanc ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Emergencies disproportionally affect vulnerable populations. The COVID-19 pandemic affected older patients with co-morbidities both directly due to more severe infection and indirectly by affecting care provision. To promote continuity of care, public health professionals require tools to quickly and precisely coordinate with primary care providers. This study evaluated whether digital interventions powered by current existing infrastructure are more effective than conventional interventions in promoting primary care appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We developed a digital intervention delivered by secure messaging and compared it to a post delivered intervention to promote continuity of care for vulnerable veterans during COVID-19 in a real world, non-randomised, interventional study. The study was implemented as part of the Veterans’ MATES program, an Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs program to promote improvements in health care for veterans. The intervention provided patient specific information to general practitioners (GPs) to support continuity of care, alongside mailed education to veterans. The intervention key messages were to maintain regular contact with care providers and to continue to adhere to health plans. The intervention took place in April 2020, during the first weeks of COVID-19 social distancing rules in Australia. The main outcome was time to first appointment with the primary general practitioner (GP) measured using a Cox proportional hazards model.Results: GPs received digital messaging for 51,052 veterans and post messaging for 26,859 veterans. The proportion of patients seeing their primary GP during the three months following intervention was higher in the digital group (77.8%) than the post group (61.5%) (p<0.01). Being in the digital group was associated with earlier appointments. Conclusion: Current infrastructure coupled with innovative solutions is effective in promoting care coordination at scale during national emergencies, opening up new perspectives for precision public health initiatives.


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