scholarly journals Presenting the primary care team to the public: a qualitative exploration of general practice websites

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (668) ◽  
pp. e178-e186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Anderson ◽  
Joy Adamson ◽  
Yvonne Birks

BackgroundIncreasing demand and expanded primary care provision, coupled with a reduced GP workforce, present challenges for primary care. New workforce models aim to reduce GP workload by directing patients to a variety of alternative clinicians. Concurrently, the principle of patient choice in relation to healthcare providers has gained prominence. It is, therefore, necessary to provide patients with sufficient information to negotiate access to appropriate primary healthcare professionals.AimTo explore how practice websites present three exemplar healthcare professional groups (GPs, advanced nurse practitioners [ANPs], and practice nurses [PNs]) to patients and the implications for informing appropriate consultation choices.Design and settingQualitative thematic analysis of a sample of general practice websites.MethodIn total, 79 accessible websites from a metropolitan district in the north of England were thematically analysed in relation to professional representation and signposting of the three identified professional groups.ResultsInformation about each group was incomplete, inconsistent, and sometimes inaccurate across the majority of general practice websites. There was a lack of coherence and strategy in representation and direction of website users towards appropriate primary healthcare practitioners.ConclusionLimited and unclear representation of professional groups on general practice websites may have implications for the direction of patients to the wider clinical healthcare team. Patients may not have appropriate information to make choices about consulting with different healthcare practitioners. This constitutes a missed opportunity to signpost patients to appropriate clinicians and enhance understanding of different professional roles. The potential for websites to disseminate information to the public is not being maximised.

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp18X697049
Author(s):  
Helen Anderson ◽  
Joy Adamson ◽  
Yvonne Birks

BackgroundIncreasing demand and expanded primary care provision, coupled with a reduced GP workforce present challenges for primary care. New workforce models aim to reduce general practitioner workload by directing patients to a variety of alternative clinicians. Concurrently, the principle of patient choice in relation to healthcare providers has gained prominence. It is, therefore, necessary to provide patients with sufficient information to negotiate access to appropriate primary healthcare professionals.AimTo explore how practice websites present three exemplar healthcare professional groups (GPs, advanced nurse practitioners [ANPs], and practice nurses [PNs]) to patients and the implications for informing appropriate consultation choices.MethodQualitative thematic analysis of a sample of general practice websites. 79 accessible websites from a district in England were thematically analysed in relation to professional representation and signposting of the three identified professional groups.ResultsInformation about each group was incomplete, inconsistent and sometimes inaccurate across the majority of general practice websites. There was a lack of coherence and strategy in representation and direction of website users towards appropriate primary healthcare practitioners.ConclusionLimited and unclear representation of professional groups on general practice websites may have implications for the direction of patients to the wider clinical healthcare team. Patients may not have appropriate information to make choices about consulting with different healthcare practitioners. This constitutes a missed opportunity to signpost patients to appropriate clinicians and enhance understanding of different professional roles. Potential for websites to disseminate information to the public is not being maximised.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (06) ◽  
pp. 529-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Peckham ◽  
Alison Hann ◽  
Sally Kendall ◽  
Steve Gillam

This paper reports the findings of a scoping review on the organisation and delivery of health improvement activities in general practice and the primary healthcare team. The project was designed to examine who delivers these interventions, where they are located, what approaches are developed in practices and how individual practices and the primary healthcare team organise such public health activities and how these contribute to health improvement. Our focus was on health promotion and prevention activities and aimed to identify the current extent of knowledge about the health improvement activities in general practice and the wider primary healthcare team. Many of the research studies reviewed had some details about the type, process, location or who provided the intervention. Little attention is paid in the literature to examining the impact of the organisational context on the way services are delivered or how this affects the effectiveness of health improvement interventions in general practice. We found that the focus of attention is mainly on individual prevention approaches with practices engaging in both primary and secondary prevention. Although many GPs do not take a population approach and focus on individual patients some do see health promotion as an integral part of practice – whether as individual approaches to primary or secondary health improvement or as a practice-based approach to improving the health of their patients. Based on our analysis we conclude that there is insufficient good evidence to support many of the health improvement interventions undertaken in general practice and primary care.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lise Hestbaek ◽  
Anders Munck ◽  
Lisbeth Hartvigsen ◽  
Dorte Ejg Jarbøl ◽  
Jens Søndergaard ◽  
...  

Study Design. Baseline description of a multicenter cohort study. Objective. To describe patients with low back pain (LBP) in both chiropractic and general practice in Denmark. Background. To optimize standards of care in the primary healthcare sector, detailed knowledge of the patient populations in different settings is needed. In Denmark, most LBP-patients access primary healthcare through chiropractic or general practice. Methods. Chiropractors and general practitioners recruited adult patients seeking care for LBP. Extensive baseline questionnaires were obtained and descriptive analyses presented separately for general and chiropractic practice patients, Mann-Whitney rank sum test and Pearson’s chi-square test, were used to test for differences between the two populations. Results. Questionnaires were returned from 934 patients in chiropractic practice and 319 patients from general practice. Four out of five patients had had previous episodes, one-fourth were on sick leave, and the LBP considerably limited daily activities. The general practice patients were slightly older and less educated, more often females, and generally worse on all disease-related parameters than chiropractic patients. All differences were statistically significant. Conclusions. LBP in primary care was recurrent, causing sick leave and activity limitations. There were clear differences between the chiropractic and general practice populations in this study.


2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 931-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
SYDNEY C. LINEKER ◽  
MARY J. BELL ◽  
ELIZABETH M. BADLEY

Objective.To describe the evaluation of a community-based continuing health education program designed to improve the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), and to examine the results by discipline.Methods.The Getting a Grip on Arthritis©program was based on clinical practice guidelines adapted for the primary care environment (best practices). The program consisted of an accredited inter-professional workshop and 6 months of activities to reinforce the learning. Analyses compared best practice scores derived from responses to 3 standardized case scenarios (early and late RA; moderate knee OA) at baseline and 6 months post-workshop using the ACREU Primary Care Survey.Results.In total, 553 primary care providers (nurses/licensed practical nurses 30.9%, rehabilitation professionals 22.5%, physicians 22.5%, nurse practitioners 10.9%, other healthcare providers/non-clinical staff/students 13.1%) attended one of 27 workshops across Canada; 275 (49.7%) completed followup surveys. Best practice scores varied by discipline at baseline (p < 0.05) and improved for all 3 case scenarios, with nurse practitioners and rehabilitation therapists improving the most (p ≤ 0.05).Conclusion.Results suggest that inter-professional education may be an effective method for dissemination of guidelines and has potential to improve the delivery of arthritis care, particularly when nurse practitioners and rehabilitation therapists are involved in the care of patients.


Author(s):  
Nicola Cooper-Moss ◽  
Helen Hooper ◽  
Kartina A. Choong ◽  
Umesh Chauhan

Medical professionalism is an evolving entity, requiring continual development according to shifting societal priorities. The public trust that underpins the medical profession is imperative for maintaining effective partnerships with patients, their families and the wider community. This article provides an overview of what constitutes medical professionalism, including the current protocols and assessments for general practice training. The aim is to improve understanding of the current issues surrounding professionalism in primary care. Fictional case scenarios are used to illustrate modern professional dilemmas and to promote reflection on the complex interacting factors that influence professional practice and clinical decision-making.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Jun Wong ◽  
Aisyah Mohd Norzi ◽  
Swee Hung Ang ◽  
Chee Lee Chan ◽  
Faeiz Syezri Adzmin Jaafar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In response to address the rising burden of cardiovascular risk factors, Malaysian government has implemented Enhanced Primary Healthcare (EnPHC) interventions in July 2017 at public clinics level. Healthcare providers (HCPs) play crucial roles in healthcare service delivery and health system reform can influence HCPs’ job satisfaction. However, studies evaluating HCPs’ job satisfaction following primary care transformation remain scarce in low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to evaluate the effects of EnPHC interventions on HCPs. Methods This is a quasi-experimental study conducted in 20 intervention and 20 matched control clinics. We surveyed all healthcare providers who were directly involved in patient management. A self-administered questionnaire which included six questions on job satisfaction were distributed at baseline (April and May 2017) and post-intervention (March and April 2019). Difference-in-differences analysis was used in the multivariable linear regression model in which we adjusted for providers and clinics characteristics to detect the changes in job satisfaction following EnPHC interventions. Results A total of 1042 and 1215 HCPs responded at baseline and post-intervention respectively. At post-intervention, the intervention group reported higher level of stress and change in score between two groups was -0.14 (β= -0.139; 95% CI -0.266,-0.012; p =0.032). In subgroup analysis, nurses from intervention group experienced increase in work stress following EnPHC interventions (β= -0.223; 95% CI -0.419,-0.026; p =0.026). Additionally, the same group also responded that they were less likely to perceive their profession as well-respected at post-intervention (β= -0.175; 95% CI -0.331,-0.019; p =0.027). Conversely, allied health professionals from intervention group were more likely to report a good balance between work and effort (β= 0.386; 95% CI 0.033,0.738; p =0.032) after implementing EnPHC interventions. Conclusions Our findings suggest that EnPHC interventions had resulted in some untoward effect on HCPs’ job satisfaction. Job dissatisfaction can have detrimental effects on the organisation and healthcare system. Therefore, provider experience and well-being should be considered before introducing healthcare delivery reforms to avoid overburdening of HCPs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 321-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Dababnah ◽  
Wendy E. Shaia ◽  
Karen Campion ◽  
Helen M. Nichols

Abstract Black children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are diagnosed later than their White peers, are more likely to be misdiagnosed, and are less likely to receive early intervention services or a developmental evaluation by three years old. Using a grounded theory approach, we solicited the perspectives of parents and other primary caregivers of Black children with ASD on barriers and facilitators to ASD screening and referrals in primary care. A socioeconomically diverse sample of 22 female caregivers participated. Four themes emerged. First, while some caregivers noted their child's primary healthcare providers facilitated a timely ASD diagnosis, other participants reported these providers ignored early concerns about child developmental delays. Second, many participants felt racial bias negatively impacted caregiver-primary healthcare provider interactions. Third, legal/custodial issues slowed caregivers' abilities to follow up on referrals from their primary healthcare providers. Finally, caregivers described denial, shame, and stigma relating to ASD in the Black community as possible factors for delayed follow up to referrals. Differences based on socioeconomic status are discussed. Efforts to improve family-centered, culturally relevant care for all Black caregivers raising children with or at-risk for ASD are needed, particularly for those families experiencing the multiple effects of poverty.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 239920262092250
Author(s):  
Natalie Kennie-Kaulbach ◽  
Rachel Cormier ◽  
Olga Kits ◽  
Emily Reeve ◽  
Anne Marie Whelan ◽  
...  

Background: Deprescribing is a complex process requiring consideration of behavior change theory to improve implementation and uptake. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that influence deprescribing for primary healthcare providers (family physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), and pharmacists) within Nova Scotia using the Theoretical Domains Framework version 2 (TDF(v2)) and the Behavior Change Wheel. Methods: Interviews and focus groups were completed with primary care providers (physicians, NPs, and pharmacists) in Nova Scotia, Canada. Coding was completed using the TDF(v2) to identify the key influencers. Subdomain themes were also identified for the main TDF(v2) domains and results were then linked to the Behavior Change Wheel—Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation components. Results: Participants identified key influencers for deprescribing including areas related to Opportunity, within TDF(v2) domain Social Influences, such as patients and other healthcare providers, as well as Physical barriers (TDF(v2) domain Environmental Context and Resources), such as lack of time and reimbursement. Conclusion: Our results suggest that a systematic approach to deprescribing in primary care should be supported by opportunities for patient and healthcare provider collaborations, as well as practice and system level enhancements to support sustainability of deprescribing practices.


2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 131-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Hartman ◽  
Josephine Barnett ◽  
Karen A. Bonuck

The Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action on Breastfeeding (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011) encourages greater use of International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) to increase breastfeeding rates. The objective was to examine IBCLCs’ experiences as part of a routine, primary-care based team serving low income, minority populations, and to elicit their recommendations for implementing IBCLC support as routine in prenatal care. Using a predesigned interview guide, a debriefing session was held with three IBCLCs who served as interventionists in two NIH-funded randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of breastfeeding promotion interventions. Themes were identified through coding and analysis of the session transcript. The results indicated that healthcare provider (HCP) support for breastfeeding was undermined by inadequate education and experience, often resulting in support "in name only." In addition, IBCLCs rapport and expertise—with both women and the healthcare team—helped overcome individual- and system-level barriers to breastfeeding. IBCLCs’ acceptance and integration into the primary-care team validated their work and increased their effectiveness. IBCLCs comments suggest that mothers cannot rely solely upon their healthcare providers for breastfeeding education and support. IBCLCs integrated into routine antenatal and postpartum care are pivotal to encouraging and reinforcing a woman’s choice to breastfeed through education, as well as emotional and skill-based support.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keitly Mensah ◽  
Charles Kaboré ◽  
Salifou Zeba ◽  
Magali Bouchon ◽  
Véronique Duchesne ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cervical cancer screening in sub-Saharan countries relies on primary visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). Primary human papillomavirus (HPV)-based screening is considered a promising alternative. However, the implementation and real-life effectiveness of this strategy at the primary-care level in limited-resource contexts remain under explored. In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, free HPV-based screening was implemented in 2019 in two primary healthcare centers. We carried out a process and effectiveness evaluation of this intervention. Methods Effectiveness outcomes and implementation indicators were assessed through a cohort study of screened women, observations in participating centers, individual interviews with women and healthcare providers and monitoring reports. Effectiveness outcomes were screening completeness and women’s satisfaction. Logistic regression models and concurrent qualitative analysis explored how implementation variability, acceptability by women and the context affected effectiveness outcomes. Results After a 3-month implementation period, of the 350 women included in the cohort, 94% completed the screening, although only 26% had their screening completed in a single visit as planned in the protocol. The proportion of highly satisfied women was higher after result disclosure (95%) than after sampling (65%). A good understanding of the screening results and recommendations increased screening completeness and women’s satisfaction, while time to result disclosure decreased satisfaction. Adaptations were made to fit healthcare workers’ workload. Conclusion Free HPV-based screening was successfully integrated within primary care in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, leading to a high level of screening completeness despite the frequent use of multiple visits. Future implementation in primary healthcare centers needs to improve counseling and reduce wait times at the various steps of the screening sequence.


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