Articles tagged with Family Medicine
Researchers analyzed medical records of 1,269 elderly patients with advanced cancer to find that over 70% were prescribed potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), which declined closer to death. PIM discontinuation was more common among female patients, those with polypharmacy, and palliative care unit admissions.
The CDC recommends shared clinical decision-making for some childhood vaccinations, allowing parents to choose or skip certain vaccines. However, a survey found that many Americans are unclear about what this means and who can be included as health care providers in the discussion.
A study published by Michigan Medicine suggests that AI can help increase the chance of people with risky drinking patterns or signs of alcohol use disorder getting outreach and help. The NLP tool analyzed full text of health records and identified over 47,500 patients with some sign of risky drinking.
A UBCO study found that resilience is shaped by supportive communities, not individual traits. Community-based strategies and place-based interventions are crucial for effective suicide prevention.
NEJM Clinician curates highly relevant clinical insights from over 150 peer-reviewed journals to give physicians clear guidance without the noise. The weekly publication delivers summaries and commentary in a concise, 30-minute read, helping healthcare providers stay informed and confident in their decisions.
The program provides financial aid and unique clinical experiences to medical students, encouraging them to become community physicians. UCF College of Medicine hopes the program can be used as a national model to address the nation's primary care physician shortage.
A nationwide study reveals an 11% decline in rural family physicians from 2017 to 2023, with the Northeast experiencing the greatest loss. The proportion of female rural family physicians increased during this period, further highlighting the need for strategies to address the ongoing shortage.
The report emphasizes the importance of pairing research with policy partners and investing in mentorship and career advancement of Latino scientists and students. It also calls for implementing evidence-based practices, using telemedicine and AI equitably, and designing trauma-informed interventions that fit Latino family life.
A new training program equips bilingual staff with medical interpretation skills, increasing qualified interpreter status to 72% among participants. The innovative approach leverages heritage-speaking staff's linguistic and cultural strengths to address the high need for qualified medical interpreters in primary care.
A survey of 134 young European family physicians found moderate overall readiness for AI, with varying levels of knowledge about current applications and usage. The study suggests a need for training and curricula tailored to primary care to address uneven readiness and low day-to-day use.
A population-based cohort study found that individuals following high-glycemic index diets had a 13% higher chance of developing lung cancer compared to those on low-GI diets. In contrast, those consuming high-glycemic load diets experienced a 28% lower risk of lung cancer.
A qualitative study of 25 general practitioners found that trust in patients deepens over time as part of a mutually trusting relationship. General practitioners initially assume trust but may lack it for complex patients who manipulate the system for secondary gain.
Adult adoptees experience multiple types of adoption-related bias from clinicians, leading to negative interactions and delayed care. Adoptees want clinicians to recognize and address adoption as a lifelong factor with health implications.
A machine learning-based study found that older adults who see the same primary care physician have significantly fewer preventable hospitalizations. The 11-year study linked survey responses and medical records, revealing a 9.8-23.5% lower probability of acute preventable hospitalizations with higher continuity of care.
Researchers analyzed data from 54,376 adults aged 45 and older in Australia, finding that higher continuity of care was associated with a lower probability of acute preventable hospitalization. A 9.8% to 23.5% lower risk was seen when increasing the Continuity of Care Index from the 45th to the 50th percentile. This suggests strengthen...
The new guideline provides evidence-based recommendations on 11 high-priority topics to guide outpatient care for adults with TBI in the first six months after injury. It addresses the need for standardized guidance and considers specific factors such as age, intimate partner violence, athletic background, and military service.
The Home Health Focus dataset provides insights into Medicare home health use from 2016 to 2019, including demographic data and patient function indicators. The analysis shows a rise in home health stays among beneficiaries while a decrease in active agencies during the same period.
A qualitative study found that physician responses to patient expectations contribute to pay gaps among Canadian physicians, particularly women, racialized, and immigrant physicians. Researchers suggest adjusting compensation models for extra time required for certain care types and examining fee schedules for underpaid services.
The study found that having no biological offspring was linked to a higher risk of schizophrenia in both men and women. Having more than one offspring compared to one was associated with disease risks across multiple systems. Each additional offspring reduced mental and behavioral disorders by 7% and breast cancer risk by 18% for women.
Research published in ERJ Open Research suggests that assessing hospital patients' reported shortness of breath could help doctors prioritize care for those at high risk of death. Patients who developed shortness of breath were six times more likely to die than those who did not, with a higher rating indicating greater risk.
A large sample of first-time mothers in the US reported informal human milk sharing, with 1 in 27 participants feeding their infants shared milk. Pediatric practitioners should be aware of this trend and counsel families on risks and recommended risk-reduction strategies.
Japanese primary care physicians derive a sense of meaning from managing diverse health problems, fostering rapport through continuous care, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals. These experiences promote professional growth and contribute to broader societal goals, building fulfilling careers.
Provincial partnerships with corporate-provided virtual care programs raise concerns about access, quality of care, and data privacy. Governments must ensure healthcare standards are met, protect patient data, and maintain transparency around contracts and profits. The authors advise caution before introducing corporate entities in the...
A study of almost 10 million patients in Ontario found that those living over 30 km from their family physician were more likely to visit the emergency department for nonurgent reasons and had fewer visits with a family physician. The distance also negatively impacted preventive screening for certain cancers.
The FDA has approved elinzanetant for treating hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women. The drug significantly reduces the frequency and severity of symptoms while improving sleep quality and quality of life.
The new guideline recommends clinicians ask about mental health as part of usual care and for patients to discuss it with their providers. The task force did not find evidence that routine screening leads to better mental health.
Researchers at Wayne State University are exploring the feasibility and acceptability of virtual reality-based Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as a tool to reduce stress in young adults with type 1 diabetes. The study aims to assess the effects of MBSR-VR on glycemic control, mindfulness, and psychological distress.
A 16-year study found increasing patient complexity and fewer patients seen by family physicians in Alberta, Canada, with notable changes including higher proportions of older adults and those with multiple chronic conditions. This trend has significant implications for primary care access and workforce planning.
A pre-visit questionnaire with EHR integration significantly improved family history documentation, with 16.1% of patients having new entries within 30 days. This approach also supported personalized prevention and referrals, including screening recommendations and lifestyle advice.
The study analyzed 10 federal health surveys and found that most included sexual orientation questions, but only one survey asked about differences of sex development. Standardized measures would help identify disparities and track progress in primary care research and practice.
A Penn State Health project reframes quality metrics to present patient-oriented outcomes in plain language, improving provider engagement. The initiative resulted in clear and relevant reports, increased motivation among providers, and a stronger sense of impact.
This study found that combining Medicare wellness visits with problem-based visits increased the completion of annual wellness visits by 50.8% and reduced no-show rates by 11.9%. The combined visits also led to an increase in screenings, tests, and vaccines ordered, including for depression, falls, pain, and cancer screening.
A study found that ultrasound-guided IUD insertion is faster than conventional methods, reducing procedure time by an average of seconds. Despite this, pain levels were not significantly different between the two groups.
A 'light-touch' EHR referral strategy successfully connected patients with prediabetes to community-based DPPs, with 122 out of 577 referred patients enrolling. The strategy was used by 30% of targeted clinicians and accounted for over half of all referrals.
A study found that virtual care expansion in Ontario did not lead to a significant increase in specialists' practices in rural areas. Despite the widespread availability of virtual care and changes in remuneration, the researchers discovered that specialist physicians did not expand their reach to patients living at great distances.
Pharmacy technicians alleviate clinicians' and nurses' workload by handling medication tasks, reducing pain points in medication access work. The study found that technicians improved perceptions of quality of care and patient access, with significant reductions in burden and task time.
The study introduced an Epic electronic health record workflow to auto-order preventive and chronic disease tests for complex older adults. This approach has improved patient engagement, reduced post-visit results communication, and minimized cancellations.
The Chatbot Assessment Reporting Tool (CHART) statement outlines 12 key reporting items for chatbot health advice studies, providing a checklist and methodological diagram. This guideline supports stakeholders in reporting, understanding, and interpreting the findings of such studies.
A study of 4,905 US early-career family physicians found that those with higher educational debt tended to work more hours per week and were more likely to report burnout symptoms. Physicians working over 60 hours a week were nearly three times more likely to experience burnout.
After ACA, usual source of care increased from 67% to 68%, with gains in low-income rural and urban areas. Insurance barriers decreased, while accessibility and individual preferences improved for low- and middle-income adults.
Interdisciplinary primary care teams in Oregon's Project Nurture and Nurture Oregon model deliver comprehensive substance use disorder care to pregnant individuals. These teams perform medical, behavioral health, and coordination functions, providing social support, advocacy, and quality improvement activities.
Researchers increased Medicare wellness visit completion from 8.4% to 50.8% in nine months by scheduling combined visits with patients' regular clinicians, leading to lower no-show rates and increased screenings for various health issues.
A study analyzed antibiotic prescribing patterns in Arkansas Medicaid's patient-centered medical home (PCMH) program. The results showed a decrease in pediatric and adult age group claims, with clinics that prescribed the least antibiotics having lower rates in 2021 compared to previous years.
A large international clinical trial found that elinzanetant significantly reduces hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women by over 73%. The drug also shows secondary benefits such as improved quality of life and reduced sleep disturbances, with no harmful effects on the liver or bone density.
A new study published in Autism found that autistic children are more likely to experience ongoing gastrointestinal problems than their typically developing peers. These symptoms can affect sleep, communication, sensory processing and behavior, and often don't have an identified medical cause.
A recent Annenberg Public Policy Center survey found that 70% of the public supports vaccine requirements for MMR in schools. The percentage increased from 63% in August 2023. The survey also showed that over 7 in 10 U.S. adults support a policy making it mandatory for parents to vaccinate their children against preventable diseases.
According to UMass Amherst research, only 16% of US counties offer access to vaginal labor after C-section. Despite the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' guidelines supporting this option, access remains limited due to factors such as hospital availability and provider comfort.
A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that two-thirds of women of reproductive age in the US have at least one modifiable risk factor for birth defects. The analysis highlights the need for improved preconception health and identifying and addressing these changeable risk factors before pregnancy.
A recent review of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care emphasizes the need for expert bodies to produce evidence-based guidance. Dr. Vivek Goel calls for a modernized task force with adequate funding and support, incorporating updated methodologies and protection from political interference.
A new study from the University of Missouri-Columbia highlights the importance of consistent primary care coordination in cancer survivorship care. The research found that only a third of patients consistently saw the same primary care clinician during and after cancer treatment, leading to fragmented care and gaps in patient services.
A study by Annenberg Public Policy Center found that firearm use in popular US movies increased by 200% from 2000 to 2021, mirroring the rise in firearm homicide rates among young people aged 15-24. The research suggests that portrayal of guns in entertainment may play a role in promoting their use for violent purposes.
A study assessing the Enhanced Primary Care Diabetes model found that Black patients were less likely to meet diabetes care goals, despite more frequent nurse touchpoints. Younger age, insulin use, and fewer initial medication counts were associated with slower progress.
Adults with moderate or severe substance-use symptoms have a higher chance of initiating and staying on OUD medication treatment. The study found that most primary care patients with opioid use disorder symptoms did not receive evidence-based treatment, but those who initiated treatment remained engaged.
Researchers found that veterans who gained housing were more than twice as likely to undergo colorectal and breast cancer screening, with significant differences between those who secured housing and those who continued to experience homelessness. The study suggests that housing may facilitate screening by promoting access to communica...
A study found that family physicians are improving maternal health in rural areas, particularly in Texas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. Rural counties with only hospital obstetric services have higher rates of social deprivation and Black populations.
The study analyzed 90 reviews covering over 1,200 studies to identify barriers and facilitators of clinical integration. Family physicians' characteristics, knowledge, and experience were found to be significant factors in successful integration.
Researchers found that high body-fat percentage was strongly linked to increased mortality risk from any cause and heart disease. In contrast, overweight/obese BMI was not associated with a higher risk of death.
A new study suggests that offering self-collection kits during routine GP appointments can increase participation rates among women overdue for cervical screening. The approach shows promise in reducing the number of cases and saving lives.
A recent study analyzed data from community health centers in the US between 2012-2020, finding that U.S.-born Latinos have significantly higher obesity rates compared to foreign-born Latino and non-Hispanic White youth. The researchers noted a trend of increasing obesity prevalence over time across all three groups.
The report outlines five key considerations for data transformation in primary care, including automation of data collection and integration with human workflows. Effective implementation requires cross-sectoral collaborations between government, industry, and academia to upgrade human and data infrastructures.