A cross-sectional study found that caregivers of Brazilian girls with Down syndrome commonly expressed concerns about menstrual bleeding and sexual development, with most permitting their child to engage in romantic relationships. The study highlights the need for guidance on addressing difficulties related to menstruation, contracepti...
A study found that family medicine physicians have the lowest net returns per dose for HPV vaccines, while pediatricians received higher reimbursement amounts. The researchers also observed a positive association between reimbursement and increased HPV vaccine doses administered, particularly among family physicians.
A cross-sectional survey of 121 patients found that 90% were very satisfied or satisfied with family physician care, and 89% with allied health team care. Comparing to previous experiences, 75% believed IVC encounters were better or same as in-person encounters.
Primary care physicians face challenges in prescribing medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD), citing negative personal beliefs about treatment effectiveness and patient adherence. Despite this, they selectively prescribe MAUD to motivated patients with severe AUD or receiving concurrent treatments, highlighting the need for incre...
Researchers found that rural patients with diabetes met fewer of the D5 metric criteria, including no tobacco use and blood pressure control, compared to urban patients. Rural patients also had fewer outpatient visits and endocrinology visits, which may contribute to poorer health outcomes.
A study of primary care clinicians reveals benefits and challenges of telemedicine, including ease of adoption depending on prior experiences, unclear visit triage rules, and positive impacts on physicians and patients. The technology also presents challenges such as conducting physical exams and diagnostic testing.
Primary care clinicians reported a range of experiences with telemedicine, from ease of adoption to challenges in conducting physical exams and diagnostic testing. The study also found that telemedicine had both positive and negative impacts on providers and patients, highlighting the need for clear regulations and adequate staffing pr...
A randomized trial found that very low carbohydrate diets led to greater improvements in systolic blood pressure, glycemic control, and weight compared to the DASH diet. The addition of extra support did not have a statistically significant effect on outcomes.
Researchers propose separating EHR time outside scheduled appointments as 'after-hours' to improve accuracy and replicability of EHR workload studies. Refining vendor-defined measures will facilitate comparative research among health systems, illuminating the link between EHR workload and provider burnout.
A digital gratitude intervention showed initial improvement in well-being among health care workers, with significant gains in positive affect. However, these benefits were largely lost by month three, suggesting a need for sustained interventions to support long-term mental health.
A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature links continuity of the doctor-patient relationship to reduced healthcare costs and increased appropriate care utilization. The study found that interpersonal continuity remains significantly associated with lower healthcare costs and more effective care usage across various studies.
A machine learning model trained on clinical text notes can effectively categorize patients into 10 risk groups, allowing for targeted care. The study found that patients in lower-risk groups had lower rates of lung inflammation and were less likely to receive antibiotics or chest X-ray referrals.
Researchers found that patient-guided tours empower patients to describe their own clinical experiences, increasing comfort levels and collaboration with medical teams. The approach shows promise in understanding the experiences of patients with disabilities in clinic settings.
A new weight loss tool called PATHWEIGH was developed to address clinician barriers in providing patient care that addresses weight. The tool has shown early success and has been implemented in a health system's primary care clinics, improving weight management efforts among patients with obesity.
Researchers found that focusing on satiety and satiation through the consumption of fruits and vegetables can lead to better weight loss outcomes. Both diet programs increased levels of satiation and satiety among participants, as well as promoting better quality of life and emotional well-being.
A proactive patient education/recruitment program, administered with a nurse navigator, identified 37.3% more eligible patients for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screenings for lung cancer. The program led to a 42% increase in LDCT prescriptions among willing and eligible patients.
A comprehensive tool assessing burden of chronic conditions shows valid and reliable results compared to clinical surveys in patients with COPD, diabetes, and asthma. The Assessment of Burden of Chronic Conditions (ABCC) scale integrates patient experience into daily care, facilitating shared decision making and self-management.
A study of 32 Black patients with type 2 diabetes found that humanistic communication, family involvement, and clear medical information are crucial for effective shared decision making. The research team offers recommendations to improve SDM in safety-net primary care settings.
A multi-site randomized controlled trial found Health TAPESTRY to have widespread reach and adoption, but no significant clinical benefits on hospitalizations and physical activity. The study tested implementation and reproducibility of the program across diverse primary care practices.
Research finds that comprehensive care services delivered by Canadian family physicians have decreased over 20 years, with no difference in decline between early-career and experienced physicians. This suggests that factors other than training or interest are driving the decrease.
Almost 40% of family practitioners work collaboratively with behavioral health professionals, highlighting gaps in access to integrated services in independently owned practices and Southern US locations.
A meta-analysis of commercially available STI tests found vaginal swabs to be more sensitive than urine specimens in detecting chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas. The study supports the CDC's recommendation for vaginal swab testing as the optimal sample type for women.
Researchers found that physician empathy and communication are strongly associated with patient satisfaction for chronic low back pain. Patients highly value physicians who validate their concerns and communicate treatment plans and expectations.
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is updating its methods to prioritize topics based on disease burden, extent of new evidence, and ability to be provided in primary care. The task force will increasingly consider health equity when making recommendations.
Researchers investigated perspectives of Black patients on shared decision making (SDM) during medical appointments. They identified preferences for humanistic communication, the need for doctors to account for family members' roles in decision-making, and a growing mistrust in doctors. The study's findings offer insights for adapting ...
The HOPE Note Toolkit is being adopted by primary care clinics in the US to improve whole person integrative health visits. The toolkit assesses patients' physical, environmental, lifestyle, social, emotional, mental, and spiritual experiences with healthcare teams.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly declined tobacco assessment rates in community health centers between March and May 2020. Assessments remained 33.5% lower than pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the need for adapted procedures to support tobacco cessation efforts.
A recent study found that social determinants of health influenced care in 35% of surveyed encounters, with the most common sources being patient conversations and prior knowledge. Integrating this data into EHRs can support personalized care planning.
This special supplement from Annals of Family Medicine highlights the work of six HRSA-funded academic units focused on advancing health care equity and improving primary care practices. The articles cover topics such as workforce training, mental health care seeking, socioeconomic issues, and whole-person oriented healthcare.
A study found that primary care clinics increased care management processes for chronic disease care from 2019 to 2021, with scores improving in organized and urban settings. However, performance and patient management areas saw a decline in 2021, with rural areas performing lower than urban ones.
Researchers found that primary care physicians using community health information exchanges (HIEs) reduced the likelihood of re-hospitalizations and follow-up emergency department visits. By accessing data about patient care transitions, doctors increased hospital admission lengths from 99 to 238 days.
A new model called 'The Trust Circle' was developed to increase recruitment of AI/AN populations into clinical trials. The model takes into account the trust between trial participants, researchers, and community leaders, with physicians and ministers playing a key role in promoting trust.
A survey of primary care clinicians revealed that 44% of patients experience cost-related insulin underuse, with those experiencing poor diabetes control not being more likely to report underuse. Clinicians can address this issue by using empathy to discuss cost barriers and increase the likelihood of changing insulin prescriptions.
A study of 1,561 primary care patients found most preferred self-rooming for a safer waiting experience. Staff also overwhelmingly favored self-rooming, citing patient comfort and reduced isolation.
Primary care physicians and patients expressed concerns about digital detection surveillance of infectious diseases, including ambiguity over consent and potential discrimination. High-quality primary care was associated with reduced hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers modified an algorithm to detect urinary tract infections (UTIs) in primary care settings, removing microscopy features that weren't available. The new algorithm performed well and suggests withholding antibiotics from low-risk patients to reduce antibiotic overuse.
Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with primary care practitioners and patients to document experiences with digital surveillance of infectious diseases. The study identified five frequently-mentioned concerns, including ambiguity around informed consent and the potential for discrimination against certain groups.
Researchers found that patients used various therapeutic strategies to alleviate symptoms, including mind-body medicine, nutritional supplements, exercise, and olfactory training. Many patients need more understanding, recognition, and specific post-COVID health care services, as well as empathy from their doctors.
The authors created a data bridge between primary care and public health stakeholders in Alberta, Canada, to enhance the province's response to the pandemic. The data bridge enabled champions to emerge, trust to evolve, and integrative healthcare practices to take place, ultimately improving community-based responses.
The study provides insights into primary care's challenges and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The learning community of AHRQ identified promising solutions to improve primary care delivery.
A nationwide study in Japan found that high-quality primary care attributes, including accessibility and continuity, significantly reduced hospitalizations. Researchers identified a reduction in total hospitalizations among participants with better primary care coordination and comprehensiveness.
French researchers found that human and organizational factors negatively impact clinical decision support system use, whereas technological factors have a neutral effect. Despite benefits, PCPs report decreased efficiency due to increased workload, highlighting the need for developers to address these issues.
A study found that concerns about colonoscopy, lack of opportunity to discuss next steps with a medical provider, and assumptions about personal risk are common reasons patients don't follow up after a positive at-home test. Researchers also developed two simple risk measurement tools to predict COVID-19 mortality rates, which could he...
Primary care clinicians are more likely to prescribe CGM when closer to specialized endocrinologists and serving more Medicare patients. Expanded insurance coverage and consultation on CGM issues can support increased use of the technology.
The introduction of a waiting room concierge service has led to significant improvements in patient satisfaction scores, rising from 60% to almost 90%. Patients report feeling more respected and informed while waiting, contributing to the positive changes.
Researchers developed a new continuity of care measure to track clinician/patient relationship quality in family medicine. Higher CoC scores correlate with decreased emergency department visits, suggesting its potential to shape healthcare behaviors.
The EPCD model, leveraging care team nurses, pharmacists, and social workers, improved diabetes care quality by increasing patients' adherence to treatment guidelines. Staff clinician practices saw significant improvements in glycemic control and patient outcomes after EPCD implementation.
Research finds that individuals with dementia who receive care from an interprofessional team are more likely to visit the emergency department than those cared for by a physician-only practice. However, this team-based approach does not appear to reduce hospitalization rates.
A survey of primary care physicians revealed that those with beliefs about BZD potential harm were less likely to prescribe it. Clinicians with low concern about continuing BZDs for long-term treatment were more likely to prescribe the medication.
A nationwide questionnaire in Dutch colorectal cancer screening found that concerns about colonoscopy, lack of provider discussion, and personal risk perceptions are common reasons for not following up. Personalized screening counseling and family practitioner involvement may help increase follow-up rates.