scholarly journals How health system factors affect primary care practitioners’ decisions to refer patients for further investigation: protocol for a pan-European ecological study

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Harris ◽  
◽  
Gordon Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
System Factors ◽  
Primary Care Practitioners

scholarly journals Identifying important health system factors that influence primary care practitioners’ referrals for cancer suspicion: a European cross-sectional survey

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. e022904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Harris ◽  
Peter Vedsted ◽  
Magdalena Esteva ◽  
Peter Murchie ◽  
Isabelle Aubin-Auger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Referral Decision ◽  
System Factors ◽  
Primary Care Practitioners

ObjectivesCancer survival and stage of disease at diagnosis and treatment vary widely across Europe. These differences may be partly due to variations in access to investigations and specialists. However, evidence to explain how different national health systems influence primary care practitioners’ (PCPs’) referral decisions is lacking.This study analyses health system factors potentially influencing PCPs’ referral decision-making when consulting with patients who may have cancer, and how these vary between European countries.DesignBased on a content-validity consensus, a list of 45 items relating to a PCP’s decisions to refer patients with potential cancer symptoms for further investigation was reduced to 20 items. An online questionnaire with the 20 items was answered by PCPs on a five-point Likert scale, indicating how much each item affected their own decision-making in patients that could have cancer. An exploratory factor analysis identified the factors underlying PCPs’ referral decision-making.SettingA primary care study; 25 participating centres in 20 European countries.Participants1830 PCPs completed the survey. The median response rate for participating centres was 20.7%.Outcome measuresThe factors derived from items related to PCPs’ referral decision-making. Mean factor scores were produced for each country, allowing comparisons.ResultsFactor analysis identified five underlying factors: PCPs’ ability to refer; degree of direct patient access to secondary care; PCPs’ perceptions of being under pressure; expectations of PCPs’ role; and extent to which PCPs believe that quality comes before cost in their health systems. These accounted for 47.4% of the observed variance between individual responses.ConclusionsFive healthcare system factors influencing PCPs’ referral decision-making in 20 European countries were identified. The factors varied considerably between European countries. Knowledge of these factors could assist development of health service policies to produce better cancer outcomes, and inform future research to compare national cancer diagnostic pathways and outcomes.

scholarly journals Minimally Adequate Mental Health Treatment and Mortality in Primary Care Older Adults With Depression and Anxiety

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 864-865
Author(s):  
Helen-Maria Vasiliadis ◽  
Catherine Lamoureux-Lamarche ◽  
Sébastien Grenier ◽  
Pasquale Roberge
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Adequate Treatment ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Follow Up Care ◽  
System Factors

Abstract Receipt of quality mental health (MH) care can influence mortality. Given the scarce literature on the topic, the aim was to assess the 3-year risk of mortality in older adults (OA) associated with receiving adequate MH treatment for depression/anxiety in an epidemiologic context. The study sample included 358 OA with depression/anxiety recruited in primary care practices and followed prospectively for 3 years. Mortality was assessed from vital statistics data. Adequate care was based on receipt of pharmacotherapy, follow-up care and psychotherapy. Propensity score analysis was carried out where the inverse probability (IPW) of receiving adequate treatment was calculated. Time to event analyses with IPW was used to assess the effect of receipt of adequate MH treatment on the risk of mortality controlling for individual and health system factors. The results showed that receipt of adequate MH treatment reduced the risk of mortality (HR0.44; 95% CI: 0.22 – 0.99). Individual factors that increased mortality were male sex, being single, reduced functional status and cognitive functioning, # physical disorders, current smoking; while exercise reduced risk. Health system factors such as past # of hospitalizations increased the risk; while # of emergency department visits and continuity of care reduced mortality. Finally, treating depression/anxiety with minimal follow-up care and pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy has a significant impact on reducing mortality in OA. Primary care physicians should recognize the important potential impact of years of lives saved when providing quality MH care to OA.

scholarly journals Primary Care in Cuba

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Stephanie Hauge
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
International Health ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Political Situation ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Primary Care Practitioners

The Cuban health system surprises the international health community with strong health indicators despite economic hardship and international political tensions. This paper provides an analysis of the Cuban health system with a special focus on the role of primary care and primary care practitioners in Cuban culture. The paper also includes a discussion of Cuban health indicators, current epidemiological issues, national health initiatives, and the effects of Cuba’s political situation on its health care system.

Assessment of primary care practitioners’ attitudes and interest in pharmacogenomic testing

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 1085-1094
Author(s):  
D Max Smith ◽  
Tarlan Namvar ◽  
Ryan P Brown ◽  
T Blaise Springfield ◽  
Beth N Peshkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Proton Pump Inhibitors ◽  
Proton Pump ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Primary Care Practitioners

Aims: Identify the attitudes and interests of primary care providers (PCPs) in applying clinical pharmacogenomics (PGx) test results. Materials & methods: A questionnaire was designed and then disseminated to PCPs across the MedStar Health System. Results: Ninety of 312 (29%) PCPs responded and were included in analyses. Seventy-six (84%) had heard of PGx and 12 (13%) previously ordered PGx testing. Most, 68 (76%), believed PGx can improve care; however, a minority, 23 (26%), reported confidence in using PGx in prescribing decisions. Sixty-four (70%) wanted a pharmacist consultation. PCPs desired PGx for antidepressants (75%), proton pump inhibitors (72%) and other medications. Conclusion: Most PCPs felt unprepared to interpret PGx results and desired pharmacist consultations. These data can inform future PGx implementations with PCPs.

Evidence-Based Treatment for the Eating Disorders

2010 ◽  
pp. 451-451
Author(s):  
Phillipa J. Hay ◽  
Angélica de M. Claudino
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
Distinct Advantage ◽  
Specialist Care ◽  
Feeding And Eating Disorders ◽  
Online Therapies ◽  
Primary Care Practitioners

This chapter comprises a focused review of the best available evidence for psychological and pharmacological treatments of choice for anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and other specified and unspecified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED and UFED), discusses the role of primary care and online therapies, and presents treatment algorithms. In AN, although there is consensus on the need for specialist care that includes nutritional rehabilitation in addition to psychological therapy, no single approach has yet been found to offer a distinct advantage. In contrast, manualized cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for BN has attained “first-line” treatment status with a stronger evidence base than other psychotherapies. Similarly, CBT has a good evidence base in treatment of BED and for BN, and BED has been successfully adapted into less intensive and non-specialist forms. Behavioral and pharmacological weight loss management in treatment of co-morbid obesity/overweight and BED may be helpful in the short term, but long-term maintenance of effects is unclear. Primary care practitioners are in a key role, both with regard to providing care and with coordination and initiation of specialist care. There is an emerging evidence base for online therapies in BN and BED where access to care is delayed or problematic.

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