scholarly journals Process evaluation of a practice nurse-led smoking cessation trial in Australian general practice: views of general practitioners and practice nurses

2015 ◽  
pp. cmv041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J Halcomb ◽  
John S Furler ◽  
Oshana S Hermiz ◽  
Irene D Blackberry ◽  
Julie P Smith ◽  
...  
2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Pearce ◽  
Marianne Shearer ◽  
Christine Phillips ◽  
Sally Hall ◽  
Marjan Kljakovic ◽  
...  

Introduction. Five years ago Australia, and the world, placed itself on heightened alert for pandemic influenza, based on concerns about the potential spread of the avian influenza virus. This prompted a flurry of preparation activity involving general practice, with information from various sources; government, colleges and divisions of general practice. Method. To assess how general practitioners and practice nurses perceive this information, practice nurses and general practitioners were interviewed as part of a larger project exploring the role of the Australian general practice sector in an influenza pandemic. Results were validated by two focus groups and scenario sessions. Findings. Participants perceived that non-government organisations rarely gave useful information during a pandemic outbreak. Local divisions were perceived as having a practical and useful role, providing hands-on support to practices during a pandemic outbreak. Our participants did not perceive any coordination in the delivery of information sent by all the organisations involved in a pandemic response and therefore rejected our second hypothesis. Conclusions. More planning needs to go into the coordinated response of the general practice sector to a pandemic, and such a response should include the support of local Divisions, both as a conduit for information and to assist practices to develop response plans. What is known about the topic? Response to a pandemic will require a coordinated response between primary and secondary care, public and private sectors. What does this paper add? Outlines the support needs for general practice to respond effectively, in particular highlighting the important role Divisions can play. What are the implications for practitioners? Planning for a pandemic should include Divisions of general practice as an integral element of the response, both as a conduit for information and to assist practices to develop response plans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Collins ◽  
R. Homeniuk

Abstract Background General practice plays a central role in the Irish health system. This study aimed to determine a baseline estimate of the number of consultations completed in general practice in Ireland annually to facilitate evidence-based healthcare planning. Methods A survey was emailed to all 3378 individual members of the Irish College of General Practitioners in February 2020 asking each practice to report on consultations by general practitioners and practice nurses occurring on the previous day of practice. Results A total of 507 practices responded to the survey, reporting 34,594 general practitioner consultations and 13,161 nurse consultations on one day. Extrapolating this figure nationally, we estimate 21,353,731 GP consultations and 7,749,615 practice nurse consultations occur in Ireland annually. An Irish person visits their GP an estimated 4.34 times a year and the average consultation time is 13.7 min. Conclusions This study shows that over 29.1 million consultations take place in Irish general practice every year. Innovative interventions to increase the capacity of general practice are needed to ensure high-quality care continues to be accessible in Ireland.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 711-718
Author(s):  
Oscar James ◽  
Karen Cardwell ◽  
Frank Moriarty ◽  
Susan M Smith ◽  
Barbara Clyne

Abstract Background There is some evidence to suggest that pharmacists integrated into primary care improves patient outcomes and prescribing quality. Despite this growing evidence, there is a lack of detail about the context of the role. Objective To explore the implementation of The General Practice Pharmacist (GPP) intervention (pharmacists integrating into general practice within a non-randomized pilot study in Ireland), the experiences of study participants and lessons for future implementation. Design and setting Process evaluation with a descriptive qualitative approach conducted in four purposively selected GP practices. Methods A process evaluation with a descriptive qualitative approach was conducted in four purposively selected GP practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic analysis. Results Twenty-three participants (three pharmacists, four GPs, four patients, four practice nurses, four practice managers and four practice administrators) were interviewed. Themes reported include day-to-day practicalities (incorporating location and space, systems and procedures and pharmacists’ tasks), relationships and communication (incorporating GP/pharmacist mode of communication, mutual trust and respect, relationship with other practice staff and with patients) and role perception (incorporating shared goals, professional rewards, scope of practice and logistics). Conclusions Pharmacists working within the general practice team have potential to improve prescribing quality. This process evaluation found that a pharmacist joining the general practice team was well accepted by the GP and practice staff and effective interprofessional relationships were described. Patients were less clear of the overall benefits. Important barriers (such as funding, infrastructure and workload) and facilitators (such as teamwork and integration) to the intervention were identified which will be incorporated into a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Elsa Lally

<p>Practice nurses engaging with patients is a daily activity in general practice. However, there is little research to assess these relationships from a primary health care, general practice standpoint. The purpose of this new and original research was to explore from patients' perspectives what occurs in general practice, and to establish how the engagements patients have with practice nurses influences patients' health and well-being. The conceptualisation of symbiotic relationships between practice nurses, general practitioners receptionists and patients described in this study, shows how these relationships work in practice, and how they shaped patients' perspectives of their engagements in the general practice setting. Although each person’s role was independent and capable of existing without the other, a mutually beneficial close association was developed.  From the experiences of 15 patients from seven rural and urban general practices in New Zealand, using Narrative Inquiry methodology informed by life course theory and White’s (2010) dimensions of well-being, the co-constructed stories gathered from the participants were analysed applying a modification of McCormack’s (2001) multiple lens model. Findings from the individual participant stories revealed three major themes – general practice activity, health focused practice, and professional comforting. Each of these themes described aspects of the participants' relationships and engagements with practice nurses that contributed to their health and well-being. The co-constructed stories described participants' relationships and engagements, not only with practice nurses but also with general practitioners and receptionists. The presence of the (often unseen) overarching doctor and of practice nurses filling the gap in patients' care was evident. Patients described practice nurses as both support for the doctor and as autonomous practitioners. Ease of access to practice nurses significantly contributed to patients obtaining competent health promoting care. Particularly cogent were the findings that practice nurses directly contributed to patients' health and well-being through nurses' skilled compassion and skilled companionship. Nurses actively listened to patients' concerns, suggesting strategies to move patients forward, while at the same time, providing space for them to move at their own pace. Receptionists were viewed as the 'fronts people' of the practice who triaged patients' health concerns, making decisions relating to whom the patient consulted, the doctor or the nurse.  By building on existing theories in Narrative Inquiry methodology, data collection and analysis, this research makes an important contribution to nursing knowledge. It provides new perspectives about nurse-patient relationships, as well as other relationships within general practice. The research also demonstrates that while there has been a significant increase in collaboration between nurses and general practitioners over time, this collaboration is distinct from the symbiotic relationships described. The findings have implications for health professionals' everyday practice, and for Primary Health Organisations and District Health Boards when undertaking health professional education and funding reviews. Future research into patients' relationships with practice nurses, doctors and receptionists, and how these relationships contribute to patients' health and well-being is necessary.</p>


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diann S. Eley ◽  
Elizabeth Patterson ◽  
Jacqui Young ◽  
Paul P. Fahey ◽  
Chris B. Del Mar ◽  
...  

The Australian government’s commitment to health service reform has placed general practice at the centre of its agenda to manage chronic disease. Concerns about the capacity of GPs to meet the growing chronic disease burden has stimulated the implementation and testing of new models of care that better utilise practice nurses (PN). This paper reports on a mixed-methods study nested within a larger study that trialled the feasibility and acceptability of a new model of nurse-led chronic disease management in three general practices. Patients over 18 years of age with type 2 diabetes, hypertension or stable ischaemic heart disease were randomised into PN-led or usual GP-led care. Primary outcomes were self-reported quality of life and perceptions of the model’s feasibility and acceptability from the perspective of patients and GPs. Over the 12-month study quality of life decreased but the trend between groups was not statistically different. Qualitative data indicate that the PN-led model was acceptable and feasible to GPs and patients. It is possible to extend the scope of PN care to lead the routine clinical management of patients’ stable chronic diseases. All GPs identified significant advantages to the model and elected to continue with the PN-led care after our study concluded.


2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 468-472
Author(s):  
Peter Ellis

Chronic kidney disease is highly prevalent in the community. Peter Ellis looks at the role of the practice nurse in diagnosing and managing chronic kidney disease in general practice Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as a reduction in kidney function, or damage to kidney structure, which has persisted for greater than 3 months and which is associated with other health-related issues. While there are many causes of CKD, the most prevalent in western societies, including the UK, are diabetes and hypertension. This article identifies the role of the practice nurse in applying the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for CKD.


2007 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J Halcomb ◽  
Patricia M Davidson ◽  
Julie Yallop ◽  
Rhonda Griffiths ◽  
John Daly

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 559
Author(s):  
Christina Aggar ◽  
Jacqueline G. Bloomfield ◽  
Cynthia Stanton ◽  
Catherine Baynie ◽  
Christopher J. Gordon

Practice managers are often involved in the employment of practice nurses and are likely to have a significant role in future transition programs in general practice. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore practice managers’ expectations of new graduate registered nurses working in general practice. A nation-wide web-based electronic survey distributed by the Australian Association of Practice Management was used to collect demographic data and practice managers’ expectations of new graduate nurses directly transitioning into general practice in their first year of practice. The sample was broadly representative of the Australian state and territory population numbers. Respondents were predominantly female with postgraduate qualifications. The findings of this study highlight that practice managers who currently work with practice nurses would be supportive of graduate registered nurses in general practice in their first year with preceptor support. The results of this study have important implications for nursing workforce development and it is recommended that such initiatives are widely introduced with appropriate financial support.


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