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.
Researchers developed and validated two risk measurement tools to estimate hospitalised COVID-19 patient mortality rates. The COVID-NoLab and COVID-SimpleLab models can predict mortality with reasonable accuracy, helping clinicians identify low-risk patients for outpatient management.
Patients who received treatment in Spanish were twice as likely to be abstinent at six months compared to those treated in English. Receipt of nicotine replacement therapy increased abstinence rates for all patients, regardless of language preference.
Researchers developed a spreadsheet tool to analyze large comment samples and identify themes within patient comments. The HCP Review Comment Analysis Tool allows providers to easily analyze patient comments and identify actionable measures of patient satisfaction, providing insights into specific actions by healthcare practitioners.
Researchers propose six competency domains for AI use in primary care: foundational knowledge, critical appraisal, medical decision making, technical use, patient communication, and awareness of unintended consequences. These competencies aim to harness AI's potential for patient and societal benefit.
Researchers found that acknowledging physicians' efforts with letters and certificates improved tobacco cessation e-referral rates after a January 2022 rollout. Providing access to accurate EHR data can also enhance clinical outcomes in vulnerable populations.
A quality improvement project implemented by primary care providers increased the use of telehealth consultations among military veterans experiencing homelessness. The proportion of video visits doubled from 4.8% to 10.3% over 16 weeks, continuing to rise during the following month.
Researchers found that 3.1% of Ontario family physicians stopped working in the first six months of the pandemic, with higher rates among older physicians and those with smaller patient panels. The rate of physician stoppages rose from 1.6% between 2010-2019 to 3% in 2020, exacerbating Canada's primary care physician shortage.
A novel study in Virginia uses state all-payer claims data to accurately assess and predict future primary care workforce needs. The approach differentiates physicians with primary care training from those who practice true primary care, providing a more accurate estimate of U.S. primary care capacity.
A One Health Clinic in Seattle provides concurrent primary health care and veterinary care to homeless youth and their pets, addressing the human-animal bond to increase access to healthcare. The clinic offers a free toolkit for starting similar clinics in the US or Canada.
A mixed methods study found that high-performing facilitators in a large-scale quality improvement initiative showed significant impact on clinical outcomes, with 75% or more of their assigned practices demonstrating improvements. The research analyzed data from 162 facilitators supporting 1,630 primary care practices across 12 states.
Research found that almost 83% of interruptions were cooperative, preserving interaction flow and allowing physicians to establish common ground. The type of interruption was predicted by role, gender, and consultation phase, with male doctors more likely to make intrusive interruptions than female doctors.
Patient-centered medical homes can bring meaning to healthcare by focusing on individualized outcomes and personal growth. By incorporating narrative medicine and goal-oriented care, primary care physicians can transform practices into truly person-centered models of care.