scholarly journals Follow-Up and Follow-Through of Depressed Patients in Primary Care: The Critical Missing Components of Quality Care

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 520-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. I. Solberg ◽  
M. A. Trangle ◽  
A. P. Wineman
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e000839
Author(s):  
Heather Cassie ◽  
Vinay Mistry ◽  
Laura Beaton ◽  
Irene Black ◽  
Janet E Clarkson ◽  
...  

ObjectivesEnsuring that healthcare is patient-centred, safe and harm free is the cornerstone of the NHS. The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) is a national initiative to support the provision of safe, high-quality care. SPSP promotes a coordinated approach to quality improvement (QI) in primary care by providing evidence-based methods, such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Breakthrough Series Collaborative methodology. These methods are relatively untested within dentistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact to inform the development and implementation of improvement collaboratives as a means for QI in primary care dentistry.DesignA multimethod study underpinned by the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Kirkpatrick model. Quantitative data were collected using baseline and follow-up questionnaires, designed to explore beliefs and behaviours towards improving quality in practice. Qualitative data were gathered using interviews with dental team members and practice-based case studies.ResultsOne hundred and eleven dental team members completed the baseline questionnaire. Follow-up questionnaires were returned by 79 team members. Twelve practices, including two case studies, participated in evaluation interviews. Findings identified positive beliefs and increased knowledge and skills towards QI, as well as increased confidence about using QI methodologies in practice. Barriers included time, poor patient and team engagement, communication and leadership. Facilitators included team working, clear roles, strong leadership, training, peer support and visible benefits. Participants’ knowledge and skills were identified as an area for improvement.ConclusionsFindings demonstrate increased knowledge, skills and confidence in relation to QI methodology and highlight areas for improvement. This is an example of partnership working between the Scottish Government and NHSScotland towards a shared ambition to provide safe care to every patient. More work is required to evaluate the sustainability and transferability of improvement collaboratives as a means for QI in dentistry and wider primary care.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-35
Author(s):  
Farrah Lee Rosentreader

Background: Depression is highly prevalent in primary care settings and depressed patients of all ages are seen by their Primary Care Provider (PCP) for treatment (Datto et al., 2003).  In order to adequately treat depression, PCPs must follow the clinical guidelines for follow-up.Purpose: The purpose of this project was to implement a standardized follow-up plan for patients aged 12 and older with a positive screen for depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) screening tool.Methods: The setting was a rural clinic in Broken Bow, Nebraska.  The sample included 89 patients seen between September 1 -November 30, 2020 who met the criteria of a PHQ-9 score of 5 or greater compared with 47 patients seen between September 1 -November 30, 2019. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency and means and compared between before and after implementation of this quality improvement project.Results: In 2019, 11.3 % of patients reported depression. That more than doubled to 25.6 % in 2020.  Of the depressed patients in 2019, 36.2% had mild depression, while the number almost doubled to 60.7% in 2020. The 2020 PHQ-9 results were reviewed from most severe down to mild depression.  Of the 35 patients with the highest severity, 89% had at least one measure completed representing an adequate follow-up plan.  Referral rates improved from 12.8% in 2019 to 14.6% in 2020.  Medication was the most common treatment in both years with 57.4% in 2019 and 27% in 2020.  Completed follow-ups improved from 45.5% in 2019 to 73% in 2020; with 1 nurse phone call follow-up and one CSSR-S completed.Conclusion: It is unknow the affects from the 2020 pandemic.  However, and increase in mild depression shows a need to know how to treat sub-threshold depression. The use of the template as a guide led to improvement on all measures. However, some measures were used only sparingly and use may be improved with increased acceptance of the guide.  


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (S1) ◽  
pp. 2-4
Author(s):  
Iwona Chelminski

There is considerable symptom overlap and high levels of comorbidity between anxiety disorders and depression. The recognition of this comorbidity has both academic interest and clinical significance. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that depressed individuals with a history of anxiety disorders are at increased risk for hospitalization, suicide attempt, and greater impairment from the depression. These individuals also tend to have a more chronic course of depression, as observed in psychiatric patients, primary care patients, and epidemiological samples. Van Valkenberg and colleagues reported that depressed patients with anxiety had poorer outcome and greater psychosocial impairment than those without an anxiety disorder. In the National Institute of Mental Health Collaborative Depression Study, the presence of panic attacks predicted a lower rate of recovery during the first 2 years of the follow-up interval. Similarly, Grunhaus found poorer outcome in depressed patients with comorbid panic disorder than in depressed patients without panic. In an 8-month follow-up study, depressed primary care patients with a history of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or panic disorder were less likely to have recovered from their depressive episode.Gaynes and colleagues prospectively followed primary care patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) every 3 months for 1 year after their initial diagnostic evaluation. At baseline, half of the original 85 patients had a coexisting anxiety disorder, the most frequent being social phobia (n=38). Twelve months after intake, 68 of the patients were available for the final interview. Those with a comorbid anxiety disorder were significantly more likely to still be in an episode of depression (82% vs 57%; risk ratio=1.44; 95% CI 1.02-2.04), and they experienced more disability days during the course of the 12 months than the depressed patients without an anxiety disorder (67.1 days vs 27.5 days).


1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 833-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. TIEMENS ◽  
J. ORMEL ◽  
J. A. JENNER ◽  
K. VAN DER MEER ◽  
T. W. D. P. VAN OS ◽  
...  

Background. We developed a comprehensive, 20-hour training programme for primary-care physicians, that sought to improve their ability to detect, diagnose and manage depression. We evaluated the effects of physician training on patient outcomes, using a pre-post design.Methods. In the pre-training phase of the study, we sampled 1834 consecutive patients of 17 primary-care physicians and evaluated 518 of these patients for the presence of depression. We measured outcomes of all patients with depression at 3 months and 1 year. The outcome measures were: severity of psychopathology; duration of depressive episode; and level of daily functioning. After the 17 physicians completed the training, we drew a new sample from their practices (498 of 1785 consecutive patients were evaluated for depression) and measured outcomes for the depressed patients.Results. We found an effect of the training on short-term outcome, particularly for patients with a recent-onset depression. At 3-month follow-up depressed patients whose physicians had received training had less severe psychopathology and patients with recent-onset depression also showed higher levels of daily functioning than patients of the same physicians prior to the training. The patients with a recent-onset depression that was recognized by trained physicians had shorter depressive episodes, but this was not statistically significant. At 1-year follow-up, all training effects had faded away.Conclusions. Training primary-care physicians to recognize, diagnose and manage depression can improve short-term patient outcomes, especially for patients with a recent onset of depression. Patients suffering from a recurrent or chronic depression may need more specific interventions, both for acute treatment and long-term management.


2011 ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
Nhu Minh Hang Tran ◽  
Huu Cat Nguyen ◽  
Dang Doanh Nguyen ◽  
Van Luong Ngo ◽  
Vu Hoang Nguyen ◽  
...  

Objectives: To determine factors impact on the relapse in depressed patients treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) during one year follow-up. Materials and Methods: 80 depressed patients divided into two groups, group 1: included 40 patients treated with CBT; group 2: 40 patients on amitriptyline. Non-randomized controlled clinical trial, opened, longiditual and prospective research. Results and Conclusions: relapse rate after CBT during 1 year follow-up is 10% (compared to 25% in control group), related factors to relapse rate in depression after CBT are age and education. Shared predictors between 2 groups are severity and recurrence of depression. Key words: Depression, relapse, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustin Lara-Esqueda ◽  
Sergio A Zaizar-Fregoso ◽  
Violeta M Madrigal-Perez ◽  
Mario Ramirez-Flores ◽  
Daniel A Montes-Galindo ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Diabetes Mellitus is a worldwide health problem and the leading cause of premature death with increasing prevalence over time. Usually, along with it, Hypertension presents and acts as another risk factor that increases mortality risk. Both diseases impact the country's health while also producing an economic burden for society, causing billions of dollars to be invested in their management. OBJECTIVE The present study evaluated the quality of medical care for patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HBP), and both pathologies (DM+HBP) within a public health system in Mexico, according to the official Mexican standard for each pathology. METHODS 45,498 patients were included from 2012 to 2015. All information was taken from the electronic medical records database, exported as anonymized data for research purposes. Each patient record was compared against the standard to test the quality of medical care. RESULTS Glycemia with hypertension goals reached 29.6% in DM+HBP, 48.6% in DM, and 53.2% in HBP. The goals of serum lipids were reached by 3% in DM+HBP, 5% in DM, and 0.2% in HBP. Glycemia, hypertension, and LDL cholesterol reached 0.04%. 15% of patients had an undiagnosed disease of diabetes or hypertension. Clinical follow-up examinations reached 20% for foot examination and clinical eye examination in the whole population. Specialty referral reached 1% in angiology or cardiology in the whole population. CONCLUSIONS Goals for glycemic and hypertension reached 50% in the overall population, while serum lipids, clinical follow-up examinations, and referral to a specialist were deficient. Patients who had both diseases had more consultations, better control for hypertension and lipids, but inferior glycemic control. Overall, quality care for DM and/or HBP has not been met according to the standards. While patients with DM and HBP do not have a current standard to evaluate their own needs.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ubiratan Cardinalli Adler ◽  
Maristela Schiabel Adler ◽  
Livia Mitchiguian Hotta ◽  
Ana Elisa Madureira Padula ◽  
Amarilys de Toledo Cesar ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To investigate the effectiveness and safety of homeopathic medicine Natrum muriaticum (LM2) for mild cases of COVID-19 in Primary Health Care. Trial design A randomized, two-armed (1:1), parallel, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial is being performed to test the following hypotheses: H0: homeopathic medicines = placebo (null hypothesis) vs. H1: homeopathic medicines ≠ placebo (alternative hypothesis) for mild cases of COVID-19 in Primary Care. Participants Setting: Primary Care of São Carlos – São Paulo – Brazil. One hundred participants aged 18 years or older, with Influenza-like symptoms and a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Willingness to give informed consent and to comply with the study procedures is also required. Exclusion criterium: severe acute respiratory syndrome. Intervention and comparator Homeopathy: 1 globule of Natrum muriaticum LM2 diluted in 20 mL of alcohol 30% and dispensed in a 30 ml bottle. Placebo: 20 mL of alcohol 30% dispensed in a 30 ml bottle. Posology: one drop taken orally every 4 hours (6 doses/day) while there is fever, cough, tiredness, or pain (headache, sore throat, muscle aches, chest pain, etc.) followed by one drop every 6 hours (4 doses/day) until the fourteenth day of use. The bottle of study medication should be submitted to 10 vigorous shakes (succussions) before each dose. Posology may be changed by telemedicine, with no break in blinding. Study medication should be maintained during home isolation. According to the Primary Care protocol, the home isolation period lasts until the 10th day after the appearance of the first symptom, or up to 72 hours without symptoms. Main outcomes The primary endpoint will be time to recovery, defined as the number of days elapsed before all COVID-19 Influenza-like symptoms are recorded as mild or absent during home isolation period. Secondary measures are recovery time for each COVID-19 symptom; score of the scale created for the study (COVID-Simile Scale); medicines used during follow-up; number of days of follow-up; number of visits to emergency services; number of hospitalizations; other symptoms and Adverse Events during home isolation period. Randomisation The study Statistician generated a block randomization list, using a 1:1 ratio of the two groups (denoted as A and B) and a web-based tool (http://www.random.org/lists). Blinding (masking) The clinical investigators, the statistician, the Primary Care teams, the study collaborators, and the participants will remain blinded from the identity of the two treatment groups until the end of the study. Numbers to be randomised (sample size) One hundred participants are planned to be randomized (1:1) to placebo (50) or homeopathy (50). Trial Status Protocol version/date May 21, 2020. Recruitment is ongoing. First participant was recruited/included on June 29,2020. Due to recruitment adaptations to Primary Care changes, the authors anticipate the trial will finish recruiting on April 10, 2021. Trial registration COVID-Simile Study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN - https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm) on June 1st, 2020, and the trial start date was June 15, 2020. Unique ID: UMIN000040602. Full protocol The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.


Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Marjan Abbasi ◽  
Sheny Khera ◽  
Julia Dabravolskaj ◽  
Bernadette Chevalier ◽  
Kelly Parker

(1) Background: Integrated models of primary care deliver the comprehensive and preventative approach needed to identify and manage frailty in older people. Seniors’ Community Hub (SCH) was developed to deliver person-centered, evidence-informed, coordinated, and integrated care services to older community dwelling adults living with frailty. This paper aims to describe the SCH model, and to present patient-oriented results of the pilot. (2) Methods: SCH was piloted in an academic clinic with six family physicians. Eligible patients were community dwelling, 65 years of age and older, and considered to be at risk of frailty (eFI > 0.12). Health professionals within the clinic received training in geriatrics and interprofessional teamwork to form the SCH team working with family physicians, patients and caregivers. The SCH intervention consisted of a team-based multi-domain assessment with person-centered care planning and follow-up. Patient-oriented outcomes (EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS) and 4-metre gait speed were measured at initial visit and 12 months later. (3) Results: 88 patients were enrolled in the pilot from April 2016–December 2018. No statistically significant differences in EQ-5D-5L/VAS or the 4-metre gait speed were detected in 38 patients completing the 12-month assessment. (4) Conclusions: Future larger scale studies of longer duration are needed to demonstrate impacts of integrated models of primary care on patient-oriented outcomes for older adults living with frailty.


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