scholarly journals Feasibility, acceptability, and content of video consulting in primary care

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp19X702941
Author(s):  
Eddie Donaghy ◽  
Vicky Hammersley ◽  
Helen Atherton ◽  
Annemieke Bikker ◽  
Hannah Mcneilly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Smart Device ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Health It ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Face To Face

BackgroundGovernment leaders have called for increased use of video-consulting (VC) in clinical practice. Although provided by the private sector, it is rarely used in NHS primary care. It is unclear how VC differs from telephone (TC) or face-to-face consulting (FTFC), or how useful clinicians and patients find it.AimTo assess the feasibility and acceptability to patients and clinicians of running a VC service in general practice and to explore differences in duration and content compared with FTFC and TC.MethodVC equipment was installed in six GP practices and 13 clinicians were asked to identify patients who required follow-up consultations and who had access to a smart-device or laptop. They were offered the choice of a VC, TC, or FTFC. Consultations were audiorecorded and content analysed using the RIAS system. Patient and clinician views were obtained by questionnaires and interviews.ResultsOne hundred and forty-seven patients were recruited (FTFC = 51, TC = 51, VC = 45). VC users were generally younger. VCs and TCs were shorter (mean VC 5.9, TC 5.6, FTFCs 9.6 minutes), addressed fewer problems (mean VC 1.5, TC 1.7, FTFC 2.0) and had less information exchange than FTFCs. Technical problems were common, but VCs offered significant advantages over TC in terms of non-verbal communication. VC was considered particularly useful to working and housebound people and for those with mental health problems.ConclusionVC has distinct advantages over TC. When integrated into current systems VC will provide an alternative to FTFC. Where formal physical examination is not required (discussing test results, medication changes and mental health) it offers considerable time savings to patients.

scholarly journals Comparing the content and quality of video, telephone, and face-to-face consultations: a non-randomised, quasi-experimental, exploratory study in UK primary care

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (686) ◽  
pp. e595-e604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Hammersley ◽  
Eddie Donaghy ◽  
Richard Parker ◽  
Hannah McNeilly ◽  
Helen Atherton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Information Giving ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Primary Care Services ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Primary Care Clinicians

BackgroundGrowing demands on primary care services have led to policymakers promoting video consultations (VCs) to replace routine face-to-face consultations (FTFCs) in general practice.AimTo explore the content, quality, and patient experience of VC, telephone (TC), and FTFCs in general practice.Design and settingComparison of audio-recordings of follow-up consultations in UK primary care.MethodPrimary care clinicians were provided with video-consulting equipment. Participating patients required a smartphone, tablet, or computer with camera. Clinicians invited patients requiring a follow-up consultation to choose a VC, TC, or FTFC. Consultations were audio-recorded and analysed for content and quality. Participant experience was explored in post-consultation questionnaires. Case notes were reviewed for NHS resource use.ResultsOf the recordings, 149/163 were suitable for analysis. VC recruits were younger, and more experienced in communicating online. FTFCs were longer than VCs (mean difference +3.7 minutes, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1 to 5.2) or TCs (+4.1 minutes, 95% CI = 2.6 to 5.5). On average, patients raised fewer problems in VCs (mean 1.5, standard deviation [SD] 0.8) compared with FTFCs (mean 2.1, SD 1.1) and demonstrated fewer instances of information giving by clinicians and patients. FTFCs scored higher than VCs and TCs on consultation-quality items.ConclusionVC may be suitable for simple problems not requiring physical examination. VC, in terms of consultation length, content, and quality, appeared similar to TC. Both approaches appeared less ‘information rich’ than FTFC. Technical problems were common and, though patients really liked VC, infrastructure issues would need to be addressed before the technology and approach can be mainstreamed in primary care.

scholarly journals Acceptability, benefits, and challenges of video consulting: a qualitative study in primary care

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (686) ◽  
pp. e586-e594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddie Donaghy ◽  
Helen Atherton ◽  
Victoria Hammersley ◽  
Hannah McNeilly ◽  
Annemieke Bikker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Work Demand ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Visual Component ◽  
Primary Care Clinicians

BackgroundPeople increasingly communicate online, using visual communication mediums such as Skype and FaceTime. Growing demands on primary care services mean that new ways of providing patient care are being considered. Video consultation (VC) over the internet is one such mode.AimTo explore patients’ and clinicians’ experiences of VC.Design and settingSemi-structured interviews in UK primary care.MethodPrimary care clinicians were provided with VC equipment. They invited patients requiring a follow-up consultation to an online VC using the Attend Anywhere web-based platform. Participating patients required a smartphone, tablet, or video-enabled computer. Following VCs, semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients (n = 21) and primary care clinicians (n = 13), followed by a thematic analysis.ResultsParticipants reported positive experiences of VC, and stated that VC was particularly helpful for them as working people and people with mobility or mental health problems. VCs were considered superior to telephone consultations in providing visual cues and reassurance, building rapport, and improving communication. Technical problems, however, were common. Clinicians felt, for routine use, VCs must be more reliable and seamlessly integrated with appointment systems, which would require upgrading of current NHS IT systems.ConclusionThe visual component of VCs offers distinct advantages over telephone consultations. When integrated with current systems VCs can provide a time-saving alternative to face-to-face consultations when formal physical examination is not required, especially for people who work. Demand for VC services in primary care is likely to rise, but improved technical infrastructure is required to allow VC to become routine. However, for complex or sensitive problems face-to-face consultations remain preferable.

scholarly journals Primary Care Peer-Supported Internet-Mediated Psychological Treatment for Adults With Anxiety Disorders: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linnea Nissling ◽  
Claudia Fahlke ◽  
Josefine L Lilja ◽  
Ingmarie Skoglund ◽  
Sandra Weineland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Adherence To Treatment ◽  
Anxiety Depression

BACKGROUND The effect of internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) on anxiety in adults is well-known. However, patient dropouts and poor adherence to treatment are common. Feelings of belonging and empowerment from the treatment might be key to the completion of iCBT. Peer support workers are people with a personal experience of mental health problems, trained to provide professional support to people who require mental health care. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess patient experiences; the feasibility, safety, and acceptability; and preliminary effectiveness on anxiety and depression, empowerment, and adherence to treatment in an 8-week peer-supported iCBT program for patients with anxiety disorders treated in primary care. METHODS This was a single-arm mixed methods feasibility study. Participants were patients referred to a central unit for iCBT in primary care. Quantitative data were collected pre-, post-, and 3 months postintervention. Qualitative data were collected through semistructured interviews. RESULTS A total of 9 participants completed the quantitative outcome assessment. Statistically significant improvements were observed in perceived empowerment at a 3-month follow-up, and significant decreases in anxiety, depression, and psychological distress at the end of the treatment were maintained at a 3-month follow-up. In total, 8 of the 9 patients showed improvement in the severity of their symptoms of anxiety. Adherence to treatment was good among the participants. No serious adverse events were reported. Eight participants were enrolled in the qualitative analysis. The qualitative results showed 3 main themes: (1) real contact in an online world, (2) empowering experiences, and (3) being behind the wheel. Qualitative results largely emphasized the personal relationship and supported the acceptability of adding peer support to iCBT. CONCLUSIONS Peer support in digital treatment seems to be a safe and acceptable intervention. The preliminary results suggest the effectiveness of peer support on patient empowerment, anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and adherence to treatment. The results indicate the need for future studies to evaluate the effect of adding peer support to iCBT in larger randomized controlled trials.

scholarly journals Primary Care Peer-Supported Internet-Mediated Psychological Treatment for Adults With Anxiety Disorders: Mixed Methods Study

10.2196/19226 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. e19226
Author(s):  
Linnea Nissling ◽  
Claudia Fahlke ◽  
Josefine L Lilja ◽  
Ingmarie Skoglund ◽  
Sandra Weineland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Adherence To Treatment ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Background The effect of internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) on anxiety in adults is well-known. However, patient dropouts and poor adherence to treatment are common. Feelings of belonging and empowerment from the treatment might be key to the completion of iCBT. Peer support workers are people with a personal experience of mental health problems, trained to provide professional support to people who require mental health care. Objective This study aims to assess patient experiences; the feasibility, safety, and acceptability; and preliminary effectiveness on anxiety and depression, empowerment, and adherence to treatment in an 8-week peer-supported iCBT program for patients with anxiety disorders treated in primary care. Methods This was a single-arm mixed methods feasibility study. Participants were patients referred to a central unit for iCBT in primary care. Quantitative data were collected pre-, post-, and 3 months postintervention. Qualitative data were collected through semistructured interviews. Results A total of 9 participants completed the quantitative outcome assessment. Statistically significant improvements were observed in perceived empowerment at a 3-month follow-up, and significant decreases in anxiety, depression, and psychological distress at the end of the treatment were maintained at a 3-month follow-up. In total, 8 of the 9 patients showed improvement in the severity of their symptoms of anxiety. Adherence to treatment was good among the participants. No serious adverse events were reported. Eight participants were enrolled in the qualitative analysis. The qualitative results showed 3 main themes: (1) real contact in an online world, (2) empowering experiences, and (3) being behind the wheel. Qualitative results largely emphasized the personal relationship and supported the acceptability of adding peer support to iCBT. Conclusions Peer support in digital treatment seems to be a safe and acceptable intervention. The preliminary results suggest the effectiveness of peer support on patient empowerment, anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and adherence to treatment. The results indicate the need for future studies to evaluate the effect of adding peer support to iCBT in larger randomized controlled trials.

Challenging care work: General practitioners’ perspectives on caring for young adults with complex psychosocial problems

2019 ◽  
pp. 136345931987410
Author(s):  
Julie Høgsgaard Andersen ◽  
Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen ◽  
Susanne Reventlow ◽  
Annette Sofie Davidsen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Care Work ◽  
Psychiatric Nurses ◽  
Provision Of Care

The international literature shows that primary care is well placed to address mental health problems in young people, but that primary care professionals experience a range of challenges in this regard. In Denmark, young adults who have complex psychosocial problems, and who are not in education or work, cause political and academic concern. They are also in regular contact with their general practitioners, the Danish municipalities and psychiatric services. However, little is known about general practitioners’ perspectives on caring for this vulnerable group of patients. In this article, we investigate how general practitioners’ care work is shaped by the bureaucratic management of care in a complex infrastructure network comprising the general practitioners, psychiatry, the municipalities and the young adults. The analysis is based on interviews and focus groups with general practitioners, psychiatric nurses and social workers. We employ Tronto’s concept of care and the concept of boundary work as a theoretical framework. We argue that general practitioners strive to provide care, but they are challenged by the following: contested diagnostic interpretations and the bureaucratic significance of diagnoses for the provision of care from psychiatry and the municipalities, systemic issues with handling intertwined social and mental health problems, and the young adults’ difficulties with accessing and receiving available care.

scholarly journals Sex Difference in the Association between Electronic Cigarette Use and Subsequent Cigarette Smoking among U.S. Adolescents: Findings from the PATH Study Waves 1–4

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1695
Author(s):  
Zongshuan Duan ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
Jidong Huang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Estimation Equations ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Prospective Association

E-cigarettes are the most-used tobacco products among U.S. adolescents. Emerging evidence suggests that adolescents using e-cigarettes are at elevated risk for initiating cigarette smoking. However, whether this risk may differ by sex remains unknown. This study analyzed data from Wave 1 to 4 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey. Generalized estimation equations (GEE) were performed to estimate the associations between baseline e-cigarette use and subsequent cigarette smoking, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, mental health conditions, and other tobacco use. Effect modifications by sex were examined. Multivariate analyses showed that, among baseline never cigarette smokers, past-30-day e-cigarette use at baseline waves was significantly associated with past-30-day cigarette smoking at follow-up waves (aOR = 3.90, 95% CI: 2.51–6.08). This association was significantly stronger for boys (aOR = 6.17, 95% CI: 2.43–15.68) than for girls (aOR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.14–8.33). Additionally, using other tobacco products, older age, and having severe externalizing mental health problems at baseline were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of cigarette smoking at follow-up. The prospective association between e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking differs by sex among U.S. adolescents. Sex-specific tobacco control interventions may be warranted to curb the youth tobacco use epidemic.

scholarly journals Predictors of clinical deterioration in patients with suspected COVID-19 managed in a ‘virtual hospital’ setting: a cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e045356
Author(s):  
Nick A Francis ◽  
Beth Stuart ◽  
Matthew Knight ◽  
Rama Vancheeswaran ◽  
Charles Oliver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Clinical Deterioration ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Remote Assessment ◽  
History Of

ObjectiveIdentify predictors of clinical deterioration in a virtual hospital (VH) setting for COVID-19.DesignReal-world prospective observational study.SettingVH remote assessment service in West Hertfordshire NHS Trust, UK.ParticipantsPatients with suspected COVID-19 illness enrolled directly from the community (postaccident and emergency (A&E) or medical intake assessment) or postinpatient admission.Main outcome measureDeath or (re-)admission to inpatient hospital care during VH follow-up and for 2 weeks post-VH discharge.Results900 patients with a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 (455 referred from A&E or medical intake and 445 postinpatient) were included in the analysis. 76 (8.4%) of these experienced clinical deterioration (15 deaths in admitted patients, 3 deaths in patients not admitted and 58 additional inpatient admissions). Predictors of clinical deterioration were increase in age (OR 1.04 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.06) per year of age), history of cancer (OR 2.87 (95% CI 1.41 to 5.82)), history of mental health problems (OR 1.76 (95% CI 1.02 to 3.04)), severely impaired renal function (OR for eGFR <30=9.09 (95% CI 2.01 to 41.09)) and having a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR result (OR 2.0 (95% CI 1.11 to 3.60)).ConclusionsThese predictors may help direct intensity of monitoring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 who are being remotely monitored by primary or secondary care services. Further research is needed to confirm our findings and identify the reasons for increased risk of clinical deterioration associated with cancer and mental health problems.

scholarly journals Pathways to Mental Health–Related Treatment Among Caregiving Spouses

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 358-358
Author(s):  
Hyojin Choi ◽  
Kristin Litzelman ◽  
Molly Maher ◽  
Autumn Harnish
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Provider Type ◽  
Hospital Emergency Room ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract Spouses of cancer survivors are 33% less likely to receive guideline-concordant depression treatment than other married adults. However, depression is only one of many manifestations of psychological distress for caregivers. This exploratory study sought to assess the paths by which caregivers access mental health-related treatment. Using nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey, we assessed the proportion of caregivers who received a mental health-related prescription or psychotherapy visit across care settings (office based versus outpatient hospital, emergency room, or inpatient visit), provider type (psychiatric, primary care, other specialty, or other), and visit purpose (regular checkup, diagnosis and treatment, follow-up, psychotherapy, other). In addition, we assessed the health condition(s) associated with the treatment. The findings indicate that a plurality of caregivers accessed mental health-related treatment through an office-based visit (90%) with a primary care provider (47%). A minority accessed this care through a psychologist or psychiatrist (11%) or a physician with another specialty (12%) or other provider types. Nearly a third accessed treatment as part of a regular check-up (32%). These patterns did not differ from the general population after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Interestingly, mental health-related treatments were associated with a mental health diagnosis in only a minority of caregivers. The findings confirm the importance of regular primary care as a door way to mental healthcare, and highlight the range of potential paths to care. Future research will examine the correlates of accessing care across path types.

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