The principles and pitfalls of screening in primary care

Author(s):  
Joseph Hutchinson

Screening is the investigation of undiagnosed disease in asymptomatic patients. Asymptomatic disease tends to occur before symptomatic disease, meaning screening should identify disease earlier in its course. Early disease is usually easier to treat, with less morbidity and mortality. Therefore, in theory, screening should reduce morbidity and mortality from disease. The UK has a national population screening programme for specific diseases. Also, GPs regularly perform health screening such as the NHS health check. This must be evidence-based, so that the benefits outweigh harms, and the process must be economical. Therefore, it is important to understand the principles and pitfalls of screening.

Author(s):  
Jenna Morgan ◽  
Lynda Wyld

Breast disease is a common surgical problem. It constitutes symptomatic disease, including breast lumps, nipple discharge, and breast abscesses, as well as asymptomatic disease detected on the NHS Breast Screening Programme (BSP) and patients identified at high risk of familial cancers. It is a busy subspecialty. Referrals for symptomatic breast disease primarily arise from primary care, where they constitute approximately 3% of general practice consultations. In addition, the NHS BSP screened over 2,000,000 women in 2014, of which 4.3% were referred for assessment. The cases in this chapter cover presentations that will be commonly encountered within the breast surgery unit, including the assessment of a breast lump and the surgical management of underlying benign and malignant pathology. It also covers the assessment and management of nipple discharge, as well as lactational and non-lactational breast abscess.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-151
Author(s):  
Rachael Marchant

Treatments for cancer can be unpleasant and costly, both for patients and the health service. Preventing cancer is, therefore, beneficial to patients, their families, their communities and the economy. As the population ages, the incidence of cancer is increasing. It is, therefore, important to consider health strategies that combat this situation, including implementation of effective measures to prevent cancer. This article will discuss the preventable risk factors for different cancers and suggest practical, evidence-based ways of addressing risk factors within the time constraints of general practice consultations. In the UK, cancer screening programmes can detect early cancers and some, such as the cervical screening programme, also prevent cancer. It is important to be able to discuss screening with patients and explain the associated benefits and harms.


2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Pass ◽  
Carl W. Lejuez ◽  
Shirley Reynolds

Background: Depression in adolescence is a common and serious mental health problem. In the UK, access to evidence-based psychological treatments is limited, and training and employing therapists to deliver these is expensive. Brief behavioural activation for the treatment of depression (BATD) has great potential for use with adolescents and to be delivered by a range of healthcare professionals, but there is limited empirical investigation with this group. Aims: To adapt BATD for depressed adolescents (Brief BA) and conduct a pilot study to assess feasibility, acceptability and clinical effectiveness. Method: Twenty depressed adolescents referred to the local NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health service (CAMHs) were offered eight sessions of Brief BA followed by a review around one month later. Self- and parent-reported routine outcome measures (ROMs) were collected at every session. Results: Nineteen of the 20 young people fully engaged with the treatment and all reported finding some aspect of Brief BA helpful. Thirteen (65%) required no further psychological intervention following Brief BA, and both young people and parents reported high levels of acceptability and satisfaction with the approach. The pre–post effect size of Brief BA treatment was large. Conclusions: Brief BA is a promising innovation in the treatment of adolescent depression. This approach requires further evaluation to establish effectiveness and cost effectiveness compared with existing evidence-based treatments for adolescent depression. Other questions concern the effectiveness of delivery in other settings and when delivered by a range of professionals.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. S8-S16
Author(s):  
Eleanor L Stevenson ◽  
Cheng Ching-Yu ◽  
Chang Chia-Hao ◽  
Kevin R McEleny

Male-factor infertility is a common but stigmatised issue, and men often do not receive the emotional support and the information they need. This study sought to understand awareness of male fertility issues compared to female fertility among the UK general male public, and also what were perceived as being the optimum methods for providing support for affected men, emotionally and through information. Men feel that male infertility is not discussed by the public as much as female infertility. Lifestyle issues that affect male fertility are not well understood, and men affected by infertility desire more support, including online, from health professionals and through peer support. Health professionals, including those in public health, could offer evidence-based programmes to reduce stigma and increase public knowledge about infertility, as well as offer emotional support to men with infertility problems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Hasselberg ◽  
K. H. Holgersen ◽  
G. M. Uverud ◽  
J. Siqveland ◽  
B. Lloyd-Evans ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Crisis resolution teams (CRTs) are specialized multidisciplinary teams intended to provide assessment and short-term outpatient or home treatment as an alternative to hospital admission for people experiencing a mental health crisis. In Norway, CRTs have been established within mental health services throughout the country, but their fidelity to an evidence-based model for CRTs has been unknown. Methods We assessed fidelity to the evidence-based CRT model for 28 CRTs, using the CORE Crisis Resolution Team Fidelity Scale Version 2, a tool developed and first applied in the UK to measure adherence to a model of optimal CRT practice. The assessments were completed by evaluation teams based on written information, interviews, and review of patient records during a one-day visit with each CRT. Results The fidelity scale was applicable for assessing fidelity of Norwegian CRTs to the CRT model. On a scale 1 to 5, the mean fidelity score was low (2.75) and with a moderate variation of fidelity across the teams. The CRTs had highest scores on the content and delivery of care subscale, and lowest on the location and timing of care subscale. Scores were high on items measuring comprehensive assessment, psychological interventions, visit length, service users’ choice of location, and of type of support. However, scores were low on opening hours, gatekeeping acute psychiatric beds, facilitating early hospital discharge, intensity of contact, providing medication, and providing practical support. Conclusions The CORE CRT Fidelity Scale was applicable and relevant to assessment of Norwegian CRTs and may be used to guide further development in clinical practice and research. Lower fidelity and differences in fidelity patterns compared to the UK teams may indicate that Norwegian teams are more focused on early interventions to a broader patient group and less on avoiding acute inpatient admissions for patients with severe mental illness.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Sharrock ◽  
C Whelton ◽  
R Paton

Abstract Introduction Controversy exists surrounding the efficacy of the UK screening programme for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Method Clinical records were reviewed in children who were treated surgically for DDH. Demographic data, age and mode of presentation, and surgical treatments were analysed, as well as outcomes, re-operation rate and AVN incidence. Late diagnosis was defined as greater than 4 months. Results 106 children (16 male, 90 female) underwent surgery from 1997 to 2018. 95 hips were operated for dislocation and 22 were operated for dysplasia. 13 patients had bilateral dislocations. Of the dislocated hips, the median age at diagnosis was 9 months (IQR 2-19). 56% were diagnosed late. In the late diagnosis group the median age for diagnosis was 19 months (IQR 15-21). We have identified an increasing trend in late presentation in recent years. This has been matched with an increasing trend in operation rates for dislocation per 1000 births. Conclusions This study demonstrates that DDH is being diagnosed increasingly late, which correlates with an increased need for surgical management. This suggests that the current UK screening programme is failing to identify children with DDH in a timely fashion, which necessitates more aggressive surgical treatment and less favourable outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 38030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deivendran Kalirathinam ◽  
Raj Guruchandran ◽  
Prabhakar Subramani

The 2019 novel coronavirus officially named as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by the World Health Organization, has spread to more than 180 countries. The ongoing global pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, spread to the United Kingdom (UK) in January 2020. Transmission within the UK was confirmed in February, leading to an epidemic with a rapid increase in cases in March. As on April 25- 2020, there have been 148,377 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK and 20,319 people with confirmed infection have died. Survival of critically ill patients is frequently associated with significant functional impairment and reduced health-related quality of life. Early physiotherapy and community rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients has recently been identified as an essential therapeutic tool and has become a crucial evidence-based component in the management of these patients. This comprehensive narrative review aims to describe recent progress in the application of physiotherapy management in COVID 19 patients. Assessment and evidence- based treatment of these patients should include prevention, reduction of adverse consequences in immobilization, and long-term impairment sequelae. A variety of techniques and modalities of early physiotherapy in intensive care unit are suggested by clinical research. They should be applied according to the stage of the disease, comorbidities, and patient’s level of cooperation.


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