A study of 349 participants found that high-competence physicians with warm communication styles reduced patients' worries and concerns over normal test results. Patients who saw high-competence physicians also reported lower likelihood of serious disease and less emotional concern.
Family medicine residents working in teams and continuing quality improvement projects across classes are more likely to change patient care. Graduates in programs with formal curriculum and accessible data infrastructure show improved clinical skills and tangible clinical change.
Researchers developed an AI model to sharpen handheld ultrasound images, improving carotid plaque detection. The AI-enhanced images detected 94.8% of plaques compared to 87.6% on standard images. The tool also correctly flagged unstable plaques and ruled out stable-appearing ones, but still missed some unstable-appearing features.
A study combining phosphatidylethanol biomarker tests and self-reported measures of alcohol use found that 5.8% of patients below hazardous threshold had elevated PEth levels, while AUDIT and self-reported measures varied in flagging risky consumption. The findings support a multimethod approach to screening in primary care.
Reorganizing large clinics into small teams improves care for patients with chronic disease, reducing costs by lowering hospital stays and specialist visits. Teamlet model patients also receive more frequent screenings and show slight improvements in blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Patients with chronic pain benefit from group medical visits, which facilitate emotional, appraisal, informational, and instrumental social support. This social support network encourages patients to share experiences, tips, and resources, ultimately improving their chronic pain management.
The Northern New England CO-OP Practice and Community-Based Research Network organized 36 learning tours, reaching 82 primary care sites and 300 clinicians between 2023 and 2025. The tours increased CO-OP network membership by 102% and annual meeting attendance by 37%, driving clinician engagement in practice-based research.
A new care model incorporating longer visits has been introduced to reach Medicaid patients before they need emergency or hospital services. This model has led to reduced care use, improved chronic disease management, and lower costs within the Medicaid managed population.
The study identified several barriers to integrating peer support into Medicare-funded care, including limited knowledge of navigation codes and billing requirements. Facilitators included the potential to expand access and reduce inappropriate hospitalizations.
Researchers developed an AI model that sharpens handheld ultrasound images, improving carotid plaque detection in a community screening program. The AI-enhanced images correctly identified 94.8% of plaques, compared to 87.6% on standard handheld ultrasound images.
Prescribers often struggle with language support for patients with non-English language preferences due to lack of awareness and resources. The survey found that 61.5% of respondents were unaware of best practices for providing non-English medication instructions.
Medical assistants spent 30% of their time idle, with indirect care tasks accounting for 40% of their time. A new task arrangement improved workflow, with physicians and assistants showing increased satisfaction.
A randomized controlled trial found that a comprehensive navigation service significantly improved self-reported access to needed resources among primary care patients. The study also highlighted the benefits of this model for Francophone minority populations, particularly in accessing French-language services.
A qualitative study identified four self-care decision-making patterns among adults with multiple cardiometabolic conditions, including past experiences and leveraging resources. Effective self-care behaviors can improve quality of life for these patients, particularly those with type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke.
Health system physicians value financial protections and clinical support teams, while independent physicians prioritize patient continuity and autonomy. The study's findings highlight substantial contrasts between daily practice experiences across the two organizational models.
Patients with long-term relationships to their family physicians may experience fewer urgent hospital admissions and lower hospital costs. This is due to consistently seeing the same general practitioner, which is associated with reduced hospital costs but not fewer urgent admissions.
A retrospective study found patients registered for longer periods had 9-21% lower odds of urgent hospital admission and 17-28% lower costs. Consistently seeing the same general practitioner was associated with 6-7% lower hospital costs but not fewer urgent admissions.
A new program taught family physicians to perform echocardiography using an AI-guided handheld ultrasound device, reducing wait times and costs. The approach, piloted in nine clinics across Spain, estimates annual savings of €70,000 per clinic.
A theory study identified 12 paradoxes in social care, including whether it promotes equity or stigma and tailoring care to context. The authors proposed three reconciliation strategies to address these tensions and integrate social care into primary care.
A qualitative theory study reveals three themes in how generalist physicians understand their work and role. The 'Way', 'Privilege', and 'Indescribable Whole' capture the essence of generalism as a time-centered, relational approach to patient care.
A survey of 314 family medicine residency program directors found that only 44% have written expectations around self-directed learning. Despite this, 93.6% of directors believe recent graduates model lifelong learning, and over half (57.6%) consider self-directed learning a high curricular priority.
A Canadian pilot study examined ways to link dementia patients' medical records with those of their caregivers. The report highlights critical gaps in clinical application due to EMR incompatibility, varying provincial privacy rules, and consent requirements.
A randomized controlled trial in Singapore found that offering self-sampling increased both high-risk HPV detection and overall screening uptake among previously unscreened women. Screening uptake also increased particularly among women with no prior screening history. In contrast, patients registered with their general practice for lo...
A randomized controlled trial in Singapore found that self-sampling increased high-risk HPV detection and overall screening uptake among previously unscreened women. Screening uptake also increased among women with regular screening history, particularly those who chose self-sampling.
A study analyzing Canadian family physicians' electronic health records found a substantial increase in patient contacts and unique patients over the 11-year period, with referral rates rising by 57% and laboratory tests increasing by 29%. The average number of chronic conditions per medical encounter remained stable.
A new study found that an intervention increasing colorectal cancer screening had similar effects across Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic White patients. Overall completion rates remained lower for Black patients despite the intervention.
Research reveals low completion rates of Medicare's free annual wellness visits among Black and Hispanic patients due to barriers such as long hold times and transportation costs. Participants expressed confusion about the service and historical racial discrimination in medicine.
A nine-session weekly group program in rural Spain improved caregiver burden, quality of life, and self-efficacy. Key factors associated with greater burden include personal health problems and extended caregiving hours.
Research analyzed over 35.8 million emergency department visits to compare fall-related injury risks among adults with and without intellectual and/or developmental disabilities or cerebral palsy. Adults with these conditions were more likely to visit the emergency department due to falls, especially at younger ages.
Researchers in China used AI-enhanced point-of-care ultrasound to train general practitioners in detecting carotid artery plaque. They found that the GPs accurately identified plaque 87% of the time and cleared patients correctly when no plaque existed.
Researchers found that patients who received five minutes of Christian in-person prayer reported greater relief from both pain and anxiety compared to those who listened to music. Additionally, black participants showed larger improvements in both pain and anxiety than other participants.
A new Epic EHR alert improved hepatitis B monitoring rates at a primary care clinic, increasing timely testing from 34% to 51%. The intervention boosted overall monitoring rates above the national average of 11-21%, highlighting the potential for automation in addressing care gaps.
Patients who received five minutes of in-person prayer experienced greater relief from both pain and anxiety compared to those who listened to music. The study found significant improvements in pain reduction at two weeks, with black participants showing larger improvements.
A Mayo Clinic study analyzed records of 571 adults with ME/CFS and found that family medicine physicians often prescribed common pain-relievers and sleep aids before specialist consultation. The study suggests that these medications may be underutilized for treating core symptoms of ME/CFS, such as fatigue and brain fog.
In a low-cost, two-hour educational intervention, Brazilian medical students addressed common misconceptions about vaccines and increased confidence among parents and caregivers. The session was notably receptive to information from medical students, suggesting a promising approach to building vaccine confidence in primary care.
A systematic review of 29 studies found that advanced access models in primary care lead to shorter wait times and stronger patient-physician relationships. Implementation of advanced access resulted in improved patient satisfaction and reduced emergency department visits.
The PERCS initiative aims to develop and test interventions promoting comprehensive survivorship care for adult cancer survivors. Four randomized controlled trials will improve how primary care clinicians deliver survivorship care to over 18 million US cancer survivors.
A family medicine practice in upstate New York revised its patient dismissal process, shifting from expedited dismissals to a structured review process that prioritizes patient engagement and collaborative planning. This redesign led to a significant decline in behavior-concern referrals and eliminated racial disproportionality.
Researchers developed a joint display method to analyze patient survey ratings and open-text comments together, revealing patterns between satisfaction scores and patient experiences. This approach provided a fuller view of patient experience than scores alone, with implications for long COVID program evaluations.
A team-based buprenorphine clinic incorporated a trained chaplain into patient care, providing a psychologically safe space for conversation and supporting patients in identifying recovery capital. The clinic reported successful outcomes, with eight patients achieving at least 12 months of sobriety.
A cluster randomized controlled trial found integrating social risk alerts improved blood pressure control by increasing screenings for social risks. Intervention clinics showed a modest increase in odds of blood pressure control over time.
A study found that cancer patients during the last phase of life experienced more bleeding events than thromboembolic events. Most patients continued their antithrombotic therapy despite increased bleeding risk, with over 28% experiencing at least one bleeding episode.
Research found that lonely patients reported worse healthcare experiences, including feeling unheard and unsupported. Patients who felt lonely were also less confident in managing their own health.
A randomized clinical trial found that patients who received community paramedic home care had higher satisfaction rates and preferred future care in a home setting compared to usual care pathways. The study did not show a significant reduction in hospital use or acute care needs, but improved patient outcomes.
A retrospective cohort study in primary care found that patients with floaters or flashes have a higher risk of retinal detachment. The study, published in the Annals of Family Medicine, analyzed data from 1,181 episodes and found that new or recently changed acute floaters were associated with a higher relative risk.
Researchers found that clinicians assess patients in context, developing management plans collaboratively with patients and caregivers. Clinicians also reported growing skills to focus on overall well-being and priorities, suggesting tailored care benefits from team continuity, flexibility, and strong collaboration.
Researchers found that community health centers sustained strong patient-clinician relationships during the pandemic, with higher continuity rates among older adults and those with above-average income. Lower continuity rates were associated with female gender, Hispanic ethnicity, and telehealth use.
A study of 281,582 adults found that those experiencing social and physical isolation were less likely to receive preventive health services. Financial hardship was a significant factor contributing to these findings, with 82.1% of physically isolated individuals experiencing material deprivation.
Researchers examined how practice-based research and learning networks approach data governance, identifying the importance of building knowledge of Indigenous data sovereignty. Existing Indigenous governance frameworks provide guidance on incorporating Indigenous data sovereignty principles into PBRLNs.
A retrospective cohort study in primary care found that patients presenting with floaters or flashes have different risks of retinal detachment. Researchers analyzed data from seven family practices in the Netherlands and discovered a higher absolute risk among episodes with new or recently changed acute floaters, more than 10 floaters...