Australian practice nurses’ perceptions of their role and competency to provide nutrition care to patients living with chronic disease

Nutrition is important in the management of chronic disease, and practice nurses in the Australian primary care setting are increasingly providing nutrition care to patients living with chronic disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate practice nurses’ perceptions of their role and competency to provide nutrition care to patients living with chronic disease in Australia. Twenty practice nurses currently employed in general practice participated in an individual semi-structured telephone interview. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Practice nurses perceived themselves to be in a prime position to provide opportunistic nutrition care to patients. Participants perceived that the ideal role of a practice nurse is to advocate for nutrition and provide a basic level of nutrition care to patients; however, the interpretation of the term ‘basic’ varied between participants. Participants perceived that practice nurses are highly trusted and approachable, which they valued as important characteristics for the provision of nutrition care. Barriers to providing nutrition care included time constraints, lack of nutrition knowledge and lack of confidence. Participants were concerned about the availability and accessibility of nutrition education opportunities for practice nurses. The present study has demonstrated that practice nurses perceive themselves as having a significant role in the provision of nutrition care to patients with chronic disease in the Australian primary care setting. Further investigation of strategies to enhance the effectiveness of nutrition care provision by practice nurses is warranted.

Download Full-text

Anaemia in primary care: iron deficiency and anaemia of chronic disease

Journal of Prescribing Practice ◽

10.12968/jprp.2021.3.10.422 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (10) ◽

pp. 422-426

Author(s):

Margaret Perry

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

General Practice ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Care Setting ◽

Primary Care Setting ◽

Improve Patient Care ◽

Global Scale ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Anaemia Of Chronic Disease ◽

Improve Patient

This article will look at iron defciency anaemia and anaemia of chronic disease. Both are problems encountered frequently at a global scale and in the primary care setting. Both conditions can potentially affect any age, although anaemia of chronic disease is more common among older adults. It is hoped that the information provided will give general practice nurses and nurse prescribers greater confidence in the recognition, diagnosis, and management of these conditions, to improve patient care.

Download Full-text

Is There a Role of Cupping Therapy in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Primary Care Setting?

Cureus ◽

10.7759/cureus.12954 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ayaaz Farhat ◽

Saqib M Mughal

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Care Setting ◽

Primary Care Setting ◽

Cupping Therapy ◽

Tunnel Syndrome

Download Full-text

The Role of Behavioral Health in Optimizing Care for Complex Patients in the Primary Care Setting

Journal of General Internal Medicine ◽

10.1007/s11606-015-3499-8 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 265-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Martha C. Ward ◽

Benjamin F. Miller ◽

Vincent C. Marconi ◽

Nadine J. Kaslow ◽

Eugene W. Farber

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Behavioral Health ◽

Care Setting ◽

Primary Care Setting ◽

Complex Patients

Download Full-text

Recognition and assessment of dementia in primary care

Practice Nursing ◽

10.12968/pnur.2019.30.9.438 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (9) ◽

pp. 438-443

Author(s):

Karen Harrison-Dening

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Care Setting ◽

Primary Care Setting ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Long Term Conditions ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Memory Assessment ◽

Neurology Clinic

While patients diagnosed with dementia will require management from specialist neurology clinics, practice nurses play an important role in their health. Karen Harrison-Dening explains what assessment tools are available for patients with particular health needs The majority of patients are diagnosed in a memory assessment service or a neurology clinic. However, early detection of a possible dementia is often done in a primary care setting. Dementia diagnosis has been seen by some as a ‘tick-box exercise’ but there are significant benefits to patients and their families when screening or testing for dementia is carried out early, especially in supporting the patients management of other comorbid or long-term conditions. Nurses working in primary care have a key role in identifying patients who may have the signs and symptoms of dementia by enabling them to access a timely diagnosis.

Download Full-text

HIV/AIDS Challenges the Normative Model of Healthcare Delivery in Canada

Health Services Management Research ◽

10.1177/095148480101400107 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 55-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

P. Tsasis

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Care Setting ◽

Primary Care Setting ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

Acute Illness ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Normative Model ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus

With advances in therapeutics, effective therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has shifted the focus of HIV care from an acute illness to a chronic disease requiring the services of several disciplines in a primary care setting. This article describes a collaborative model in the delivery of HIV care for HIV-infected individuals who remain fragile, both physically and psychosocially.

Download Full-text