Articles tagged with Family Medicine
A program integrated community health workers into patient outreach to improve health, doubling annual visits to older adults with type 2 diabetes and dementia. The program resulted in a 17% reduction in hospital admissions and an 11% decline in emergency room visits among homebound patients.
A systematic review of published evidence finds patient aggression against general practice staff is common, boosting absenteeism and staff turnover; receptionist experiences are under-studied and under-represented in research.
A University of Tsukuba program aims to enhance medical students' comprehension of social determinants of health. Over three years, student reports showed progressive improvement in their ability to focus on various aspects of SDH. This study emphasizes the need for increased integration between medical and social science education.
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...
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.
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 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 new interactive online Fragility Fracture Decision Aid can help clinicians and patients visualize their individual risk of fracture. The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends a "risk assessment–first" screening process for women 65 years and older, centered around shared decision-making with primary care providers.
A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that individuals with a family history of depression exhibit reduced cognitive abilities. The research highlights the potential impact of genetic and environmental factors on brain development and aging, as well as modifiable lifestyle factors.
Research found that newborns of low-income immigrant mothers had a significantly lower risk of severe neonatal morbidity and mortality compared to those of Canadian-born mothers. The study suggests that immigration status may influence birth outcomes, with healthier immigrants possibly being more likely to migrate.
A new 'enhanced primary care' model has been found to be effective in reducing blood pressure and hemoglobin A1c levels among patients with severe mental illness. The study, conducted at UNC WakeBrook, showed significant improvements in screening for people with severe mental illness compared to usual primary care.
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.
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 ...
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.
A primary care program promoting health in older adults was successfully implemented but lacked significant clinical benefits. The Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience: Strengthening Quality (TAPESTRY) trial found no impact on hospitalizations or physical activity, despite positive effects in a previous study.
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 new study reveals that medical students learn valuable lessons from Family Medicine clerkships, including the importance of the doctor-patient relationship and clinical skills. The research also identifies a hidden curriculum area for improvement: acknowledging the difficulties of primary care practice. This finding has implications ...
The Collaborative for Telehealth and Aging has published the first-ever guidelines for offering telehealth services to older patients. The principles provide general rules for behavior, while the guidelines offer specificity for each principle, aiming to achieve individual goals for programs and providers.
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 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.
Internet-delivered parent-child interaction therapy shows promise in expanding care for underserved children with developmental delay. The study found significant improvements in child behavior that were maintained across follow-up visits.
A low-cost prenatal intervention benefits mothers’ mental health up to eight years later. The eight-week class intervention supported healthier stress responses in their children, and cut their short-term risk of depression and diabetes.
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 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.
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 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 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.
A study aims to use e-visits to bridge the gap in smoking cessation services for rural smokers. Primary care providers are overwhelmed, but e-visits could provide an efficient solution.
The DocMapper.ca platform provides an interactive map listing physicians' names, contact info, and language skills in the Ottawa and Renfrew County area. Available in English and French, it lists over 50 languages, addressing a significant language barrier for patients seeking family care.
A study on long COVID found increased rates of healthcare use two months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly among women. The largest increase was seen in a small subset of patients, who required an extra week or more in hospital compared to uninfected individuals.
Researchers attribute low vaccination rates in children to misconceptions about vaccine safety and Covid-19 vaccines. Misinformation about vaccine safety predicts reluctance to vaccinate both adults and children.
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.
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.
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 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.
A collaborative home-based palliative care model has been shown to improve health care outcomes for adults with chronic heart failure. The study found that patients who received this care were less likely to die in the hospital and more likely to die at home compared to those who received usual care.
Researchers found that using race-free creatinine formula helps equalize access for Black and white patients. The study showed that among 350 Black patients, kidney failure was reached at an average 23 months, versus an average 22 months for 122 white patients.
A new study found that reports of elder abuse increased, particularly in cases of physical and emotional abuse, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial abuse remained the most common type, but higher rates of emotional and physical abuse were reported during the pandemic.
A new study published in Pediatrics has found that children living in neighborhoods with greater hardships are more likely to use emergency departments. The study used the Pediatric Health Information Systems database and found a positive association between neighborhood Child Opportunity Index (COI) scores and ED visits, indicating th...
A study found melamine and cyanuric acid in nearly all pregnant participants' samples, with higher levels in women of color and those with greater tobacco exposure. Regulatory action is needed to limit exposure to these carcinogenic chemicals.
A long-term study found that older homeless people are at a high risk of dying, with a median age of death of 64.6 years old. The study also found that people who first became homeless at age 50 or later were about 60 percent more likely to die than those who had become homeless earlier in life.
Researchers found that mothers' higher depressive symptoms did not predict increases in children's behavior problems, including those with autism. The study suggests that maternal depression may have a complex impact on caregiving families.
A recent study found that nearly 72% of primary care, dental, and behavioral health clinicians in US safety net clinics reported experiencing moral distress during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The distress was mainly caused by limitations on patient care, witnessing patients' struggles, and challenges in their work situations.
A study by UCSF found that routine depression screening in primary care increased rates from 40.5% to 88.8%, capturing previously undertreated groups. Screening disparities virtually disappeared for older patients, Black/African Americans, and non-English speakers.
A national study by UC San Francisco found that basic home blood pressure cuffs and smartphone-connected devices have no significant difference in improving blood pressure control. After six months, patients who used basic cuffs had a lower blood pressure reduction compared to those using Bluetooth-enabled devices.
A new study found that over half of adult cancer survivors experience significant hearing problems after chemotherapy treatment. The researchers also discovered that platinum and taxane drugs, commonly used to treat the majority of cancers, are linked to high rates of hearing loss and tinnitus.
Public health researchers developed an interactive web-based guide to support family physicians in addressing COVID-19 vaccine concerns. The guide provides resources to counsel patients on safety, co-morbidities, conspiracy theories, and other issues, promoting better conversations and vaccine uptake.
The recently updated ICPC-3 guide provides health professionals with a better understanding of patient functioning and its impact on primary healthcare. By implementing ICPC-3, clinicians can improve data documentation, enhance information exchange, and ultimately provide more effective care to patients.
A study of 17,000 US primary care patients with COPD found 49.9% experiencing multiple exacerbation episodes despite treatment. Patients reported high symptoms and breathlessness, highlighting the need for non-pharmacologic treatments and improved physician education.
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.
Despite electronic health records and care coordination efforts, communication gaps between primary care and specialist physicians persist, with 22% of PCPs sending information rarely or never at referral times. This delay can lead to delayed diagnoses, unnecessary testing, and patient dissatisfaction.
A new study by University of California - San Francisco-led researchers found that tweens who spend more time on screens have a higher likelihood of developing disruptive behavior disorders. Social media was most likely to be linked to conduct disorder, while other forms of screen use were associated with oppositional defiant disorder....
A new study within the Veterans Health Administration system identified effective strategies to reduce benzodiazepine prescriptions for older adults. The researchers found that initiatives focusing on passive strategies like education and patient identification have limited success in lowering prescription rates.
The American Academy of Family Physicians has been awarded a $31 million funding to conduct a large-scale study on the comparative effectiveness of asthma treatments. The study will focus on inhaled steroids and specific antibiotics, alone or together, in over 3,000 patients with asthma aged 12 and over.
Despite electronic health records, gaps in communication between primary care physicians and specialist physicians persist. The study found that 22% of PCPs report sending clinical information to specialists at the time of referral, and less than 35% receive information back after consultation.
Researchers found similar operational procedures for remote medication abortion services across diverse practice settings, with adaptations made to local laws and regulations. The study highlights the feasibility of offering abortion services through telehealth, demonstrating potential variations in service adaptation.
Women with conditions like MS, migraine, and epilepsy face increased unplanned pregnancy due to treatment effects on hormonal contraceptives. Teratogenic drugs used for neurological treatments may be restricted or unavailable during pregnancy.
A recent study from Penn State's Center for Childhood Obesity Research found that second-born children in families where mothers received responsive parenting training slept an average of 40 minutes longer per night. The training also promoted healthier feeding practices and lower body mass indices (BMIs) in infants.
A Rutgers study found that parental depression affects about one in five US families and can have severe consequences on children's health. The research suggests that increased screening for parental depression across a wider age range has the potential to identify families in need of resources.