An expanded chronic care management approach to multiple chronic conditions in Hispanics using community health workers as community extenders in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

INTRODUCTION: The synergistic negative effects of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and hypertension increases all-cause mortality and the medical complexity of management, which disproportionately impact Hispanics who face barriers to healthcare access. The Salud y Vida intervention was delivered to Hispanic adults living along the Texas-Mexico Border with comorbid poorly controlled T2DM and hypertension. The Salud y Vida multicomponent intervention incorporated community health workers (CHWs) into an expanded chronic care management model to deliver home-based follow-up visits and provided community-based diabetes self-management education. METHODS: We conducted multivariable longitudinal analysis to examine the longitudinal intervention effect on reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure among 3806 participants enrolled between 2013 and 2019. Participants were compared according to their program participation as either higher (≥ 10 combined educational classes and CHW visits) or lower engagement (<10 encounters). Data was collected between 2013 and 2020. RESULTS: Baseline mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 138 and 81 mmHg respectively. There were overall improvements in systolic (-6.49; 95% CI = [-7.13, -5.85]; p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (-3.97; 95% CI = [-4.37, -3.56]; p < 0.001). The higher engagement group had greater systolic blood pressure reduction at 3 months (adjusted mean difference = -1.8 mmHg; 95% CI = [-3.2, -0.3]; p = 0.016) and at 15 month follow-up (adjusted mean difference = -2.3 mmHg; 95% CI = [-4.2, -0.39]; p = 0.0225) compared to the lower engagement group. CONCLUSION: This intervention, tested and delivered in a real-world setting, provides an example of how CHW integration into an expanded chronic care model can improve blood pressure outcomes for individuals with co-morbidities.

"It Can't Hurt!": Why Many Patients With Limited Life Expectancy Decide to Accept Lung Cancer Screening.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer screening (LCS) has less benefit and greater potential for iatrogenic harm among people with multiple comorbidities and limited life expectancy. Yet, such individuals are more likely to undergo screening than healthier LCS-eligible people. We sought to understand how patients with marginal LCS benefit conceptualize their health and make decisions regarding LCS. METHODS: We interviewed 40 people with multimorbidity and limited life expectancy, as determined by high Care Assessment Need scores, which predict 1-year risk of hospitalization or death. Patients were recruited from 6 Veterans Health Administration facilities after discussing LCS with their clinician. We conducted a thematic analysis using constant comparison to explore factors that influence LCS decision making. RESULTS: Patients commonly held positive beliefs about screening and perceived LCS to be noninvasive. When posed with hypothetical scenarios of limited benefit, patients emphasized the nonlongevity benefits of LCS (eg, peace of mind, planning for the future) and generally did not consider their health status or life expectancy when making decisions regarding LCS. Most patients were unaware of possible additional evaluations or treatment of screen-detected findings, but when probed further, many expressed concerns about the potential need for multiple evaluations, referrals, or invasive procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in this study with multimorbidity and limited life expectancy were unaware of their greater risk of potential harm when accepting LCS. Given patient trust in clinician recommendations, it is important that clinicians engage patients with marginal LCS benefit in shared decision making, ensuring that their values of desiring more information about their health are weighed against potential harms from further evaluations.

Evaluating palliative care case conferences in primary care for patients with advanced non-malignant chronic conditions: a cluster-randomised controlled trial (KOPAL).

BACKGROUND: Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dementia are underrepresented in specialist palliative home care (SPHC). However, the complexity of their conditions requires collaboration between general practitioners (GPs) and SPHC teams and timely integration into SPHC to effectively meet their needs. OBJECTIVE: To facilitate joint palliative care planning and the timely transfer of patients with advanced chronic non-malignant conditions to SPHC. METHODS: A two-arm, unblinded, cluster-randomised controlled trial. 49 GP practices in northern Germany were randomised using web-based block randomisation. We included patients with advanced CHF, COPD and/or dementia. The KOPAL intervention consisted of a SPHC nurse-patient consultation followed by an interprofessional telephone case conference between SPHC team and GP. The primary outcome was the number of hospital admissions 48 weeks after baseline. Secondary analyses examined the effects on health-related quality of life and self-rated health status, as measured by the EuroQol 5D scale. RESULTS: A total of 172 patients were included in the analyses. 80.4% of GP practices had worked with SHPC before, most of them exclusively for cancer patients. At baseline, patients reported a mean EQ-VAS of 48.4, a mean quality of life index (EQ-5D-5L) of 0.63 and an average of 0.80 hospital admissions in the previous year. The intervention did not significantly reduce hospital admissions (incidence rate ratio = 0.79, 95%CI: [0.49, 1.26], P = 0.31) or the number of days spent in hospital (incidence rate ratio = 0.65, 95%CI: [0.28, 1.49], P = 0.29). There was also no significant effect on quality of life (∆ = -0.02, 95%CI: [-0.09, 0.05], P = 0.53) or self-rated health (∆ = -2.48, 95%CI: [-9.95, 4.99], P = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: The study did not show the hypothesised effect on hospitalisations and health-related quality of life. Future research should focus on refining this approach, with particular emphasis on optimising the timing of case conferences and implementing discussed changes to treatment plans, to improve collaboration between GPs and SPHC teams.

Process evaluation of the implementation of the assessment of burden of chronic conditions tool in Dutch primary care - lessons from a qualitative implementation study.

BACKGROUND: The Assessment of Burden of Chronic Conditions (ABCC-)tool is developed to facilitate a personalized approach to care in the patient-healthcare provider (HCP) conversation based on shared decision-making and individualized care plans. An effectiveness study highlighted its effect on the perceived quality of care and patient activation. Successful implementation of novel interventions necessitates an understanding of the user's actual application, user experiences and an evaluation of implementation outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of the ABCC-tool by HCPs in Dutch primary care. METHODS: This study is the process evaluation of a larger type 1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial. Semi-structured interviews with HCPs, who were interventionists in the hybrid trial, were held at three and twelve months after they started using the ABCC-tool. The Reach-Effectiveness-Adoption-Implementation-Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was used to evaluate implementation outcomes. The Implementation domain was further strengthened with an evaluation of implementation fidelity using Carroll's framework. Inductive coding and thematic analysis were applied to identify relevant participant experiences and implementation outcomes within the RE-AIM framework. RESULTS: Seventeen HCPs (1 general practitioner, 16 practice nurses) participated in the study, representing 39% of potentially eligible participants. Most HCPs applied the tool after finishing their own routines instead of how it is intended to be used, namely from the beginning of the consultation. HCPs reached 2-6 patients. The ABCC-tool was initially adopted, but twelve HCPs stopped using the tool due to COVID-19 related cancellation of consultations. High fidelity was found for applying the questionnaire and visualization. Low fidelity was present for applying shared decision-making, formulating care goals and monitoring progress. HCPs indicated that maintaning the ABCC-tool depended on accompanying training and implementation support. CONCLUSIONS: HCPs applied the ABCC-tool critically different from intended, potentially diminishing its benefits and ease of use. This evaluation stresses the need for a tailored implementation plan that includes more detailed training and guidance on how and when to use the ABCC-tool.

Between delivering chronic care and answering patients' burdens: Understanding HIV specialist nurses' experiences in the age of treatment.

AIM(S): To understand the experiences of HIV nurses in the context of ambivalence between biomedical treatment advancements and the continuing burden for people living with HIV and negative representations of HIV. DESIGN: An interpretative phenomenological study was conducted using in-depth interviews. METHODS: Twenty-one interviews with nurses were conducted between November 2021 and March 2022. A thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Six themes related to the nurses' experiences emerged. Despite effective treatment for most people with HIV, nurses identify patient populations that require additional care. Nurses are flexible in making extra appointments to accommodate complex issues in these patients. Nurses develop a unique relationship with their patients based on trust and empathy, linked to patient's experiences with stigma and discrimination for people with HIV. Nurses perceive their tasks as becoming increasingly complex. There is explicit awareness about the changes in HIV care from acute to chronic care and how this affects nurses' tasks. Nurses continue to differentiate HIV from other chronic conditions. CONCLUSION: Biomedical advancements change the organization of HIV care while public health concerns remain and patient population has particular needs due to negative social representations of HIV. Nurses navigate these issues in their everyday care. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: A potential re-evaluation of the role of nurses in providing chronic HIV care. IMPACT: Our study addresses the roles of HIV nurses as care is shifting towards chronic care models. The unique relationship between nurses and patients is key in understanding the importance of nurses in the care trajectory. These findings impact the institutional role of nurses in HIV treatment centres and the institutional organization of HIV care. REPORT METHOD: The COREQ guideline was used. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Amsterdam UMC (AMC) staff, the national organization of HIV Nurses and patient organizations contributed to the study design.

Role of Telehealth Use in Chronic Care Management and Disparity Reduction Among the Aging Population.

Introduction: To examine telehealth use in chronic care management and disparity reduction among the aging population. Methods: This longitudinal cohort study compared the changes in chronic care quality measures among patients with and without telehealth visits during the COVID-19 pandemic relative to patients in the previous years and by patient sociodemographic subgroup. Participants were Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years or older from an Accountable Care Organization in the Midwest United States. Three utilization-based measures included having 2+ A1C tests, breast cancer screening, and depression screening. Three outcome-based measures included A1C control, blood pressure control, and depression diagnosis. Results: During the study period, the pandemic cohort experienced 5-17 percentage points' decrease in utilization-based measures (e.g., 2+ A1C tests 63.9% vs. 51.1%; OR [95% confidence intervals] = 0.35 [0.34-0.36]) from baseline relative to the control cohort. The outcome-based measures also significantly decreased but at smaller magnitudes (3-5 percentage points). About 51.5% patients had at least one telehealth visit. The utilization-based measures for these patients were significantly higher than those without any telehealth visit (e.g., 2+ A1C 57.1% vs. 51.1%, p < 0.01). However, the outcome-based measures were comparable. Patients from historically underserved groups had a larger decline in health care outcomes than their counterparts. Among patient with at least one telehealth visit, these disparities were no longer significant. Discussions: Telehealth was associated with less negative impact of the pandemic and better performance in chronic care management, but more for utilization-based measures and less for outcome-based measures. Telehealth was also associated with less disparities in care outcomes.

Potentially Inappropriate Medications Use and Associated Factors Among Older Patients on Follow-Up at the Chronic Care Clinic of Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Eastern Ethiopia.

Background: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) use often cause to poor health outcomes in older patients. There is a dearth of information on PIMS use in this population of patients seeking treatment at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Objective: To assess PIMs use and associated factors among older patients receiving follow-up treatment at the chronic care clinic of Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study using medical records of 419 older patients was conducted. older patients, aged 65 years or older, treated in the ambulatory care clinic were included. Simple random sampling technique was used. PIMs use was identified by using the 2023 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria (AGS Beers Criteria) and Screening Tool of Older People's Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions Criteria and Screening Tool to Alert Doctors to Right Treatment (STOPP/START) version 2 criteria. The multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with PIMs use. The strength of statistical association was measured by adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% CI. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 419 patients' medical records were reviewed. Of these, 411 patients' medical records fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were considered for final analysis. About 56.9% (n= 234) of the study population was women. The prevalence of PIMs use was 28.5% and 18.5%, according to 2023 AGS Beers Criteria and STOPP/START version 2 criteria, respectively. In accordance with 2023 AGS Beers Criteria, male sex (aOR = 1.78; 95% CI, 1.10-2.87), diabetes mellitus (aOR = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.19-0.62), and chronic kidney disease (aOR = 6.68; 95% CI, 2.55-9.32) were found to be the determining factors for PIMs use. According to STOPP/START version 2 criteria, deep vein thrombosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and advanced age were the primary factors influencing PIMs use. Conclusions: Compared with other study findings from across the world, the prevalence of PIMs use was low. Based on 2023 AGS Beers Criteria, male sex, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease were found to be the determinant factors for PIMs use. Deep vein thrombosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and advanced age were significant factor of PIMs use according STOPP/START version 2 criteria.

Shared Decision Making in Health Care Visits for CKD: Patients' Decisional Role Preferences and Experiences.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Research on shared decision making (SDM) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) has focused almost exclusively on the modality of kidney replacement treatment. We explored what other CKD decisions are recognized by patients, what their preferences and experiences are regarding these decisions, and how decisions are made during their interactions with medical care professionals. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients with CKD receiving (outpatient) care in 1 of 2 Dutch hospitals. EXPOSURE: Patients' preferred decisional roles for treatment decisions were measured using the Control Preferences Scale survey administered after a health care visit with medical professionals. OUTCOME: Number of decisions for which patients experienced a decisional role that did or did not match their preferred role. Observed levels of SDM and motivational interviewing in audio recordings of health care visits, measured using the 4-step SDM instrument (4SDM) and Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity coding tools. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: The results were characterized using descriptive statistics, including differences in scores between the patients' experienced and preferred decisional roles. RESULTS: According to the survey (n=122) patients with CKD frequently reported decisions regarding planning (112 of 122), medication changes (82 of 122), or lifestyle changes (59 of 122). Of the 357 reported decisions in total, patients preferred that clinicians mostly (125 of 357) or fully (101 of 357) make the decisions. For 116 decisions, they preferred a shared decisional role. For 151 of 357 decisions, the patients' preferences did not match their experiences. Decisions were experienced as "less shared/patient-directed" (76 of 357) or "more shared/patient-directed" (75 of 357) than preferred. Observed SDM in 118 coded decisions was low (median4; range, 0 - 22). Motivational interviewing techniques were rarely used. LIMITATIONS: Potential recall and selection bias, and limited generalizability. CONCLUSIONS: We identified multiple discrepancies between preferred, experienced, and observed SDM in health care visits for CKD. Although patients varied in their preferred decisional role, a considerable number of patients expressed a preference for shared decision making for many decisions. However, SDM behavior during the health care visits was observed infrequently. PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Shared decision making (SDM) may be a valuable approach for common chronic kidney disease (CKD) decisions, but our knowledge is limited. We collected patient surveys after health care visits for CKD. Patients most frequently experienced decisions regarding planning, medication, and lifestyle. Three decisional roles were preferred by comparable numbers of patients: let the clinician alone decide, let the clinician decide for the most part, or "equally share" the decision. Patients' experiences of who made the decision did not always match their preferences. In audio recordings of the health care visits, we observed low levels of SDM behavior. These findings suggest that the preference for "sharing decisions" is often unmet for a large number of patients.

Racial-Ethnic Composition of Primary Care Practices and Comprehensive Primary Care Plus Initiative Participation.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether the racial-ethnic composition or the socioeconomic profiles of eligible primary care practices better explain practice participation in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) program. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether practices serving high proportions of Black or Latino Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries were less likely to participate in CPC+ in 2021 compared to practices serving lower proportions of these populations. DESIGN: 2019 IQVIA OneKey data on practice characteristics was linked with 2018 CMS claims data and 2021 CMS CPC+ participation data. Medicare FFS beneficiaries were attributed to practices using CMS's primary care attribution method. PARTICIPANTS: 11,718 primary care practices and 7,264,812 attributed Medicare FFS beneficiaries across 18 eligible regions. METHODS: Multivariable logistic regression models examined whether eligible practices with relatively high shares of Black or Latino Medicare FFS beneficiaries were less likely to participate in CPC+ in 2021, controlling for the clinical and socioeconomic profiles of practices. MAIN MEASURES: Proportion of Medicare FFS beneficiaries attributed to each practice that are (1) Latino and (2) Black. KEY RESULTS: Of the eligible practices, 26.9% were CPC+ participants. In adjusted analyses, practices with relatively high shares of Black (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 0.62, p < 0.05) and Latino (aOR = 0.32, p < 0.01) beneficiaries were less likely to participate in CPC+ compared to practices with lower shares of these beneficiary groups. State differences in CPC+ participation rates partially explained participation disparities for practices with relatively high shares of Black beneficiaries, but did not explain participation disparities for practices with relatively high shares of Latino beneficiaries. CONCLUSIONS: The racial-ethnic composition of eligible primary care practices is more strongly associated with CPC+ participation than census tract-level poverty. Practice eligibility requirements for CMS-sponsored initiatives should be reconsidered so that Black and Latino beneficiaries are not left out of the benefits of practice transformation.

Effectiveness of self-financing patient-led support groups in the management of hypertension and diabetes in low- and middle-income countries: Systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: There is insufficient evidence on the role of self-financing patient support groups in the control of blood pressure (BP) and/or diabetes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We conducted a systematic review to investigate the effectiveness of these groups in BP and glycaemic control. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Global Health, African Journals Online, CINAHL and African Index Medicus for published peer-reviewed articles from inception up to November 2021. Grey literature was obtained from OpenGrey. Studies on patient support groups for hypertension and/or diabetes with a component of pooling financial resources, conducted in LMICs, were included. Narrative reviews, commentaries, editorials and articles published in languages other than English and French were excluded. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the National Institutes of Health Quality assessment tool and the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Results are reported according to PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Of 724 records screened, three studies met the criteria: two trials conducted in Kenya and a retrospective cohort study conducted in Cambodia. All studies reported improvement in BP control after 12 months follow-up with reductions in systolic BP of 23, 14.8, and 16.9 mmHg, respectively. Two studies reported diabetes parameters. The first reported improvement in HbA1c (reduction from baseline 10.8%, to 10.6% at 6 months) and random blood sugar (baseline 8.9 mmol/L, to 8.5 mmol/L at 6 months) but these changes did not achieve statistical significance. The second reported a reduction in fasting blood glucose (baseline-216 mg/dl, 12 months-159 mg/dl) in diabetic patients on medication. CONCLUSION: Self-financing patient support groups for diabetes and hypertension are potentially effective in the control of BP and diabetes in LMICs. More studies are needed to add to the scarce evidence base on the role of self-financing patient support groups.

The Impact of Reimbursement for Non-Face-to-Face Chronic Care Management on Health Utilization Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in Louisiana.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the impact of reimbursement for non-face-to-face chronic care management (NFFCCM) on healthcare utilization among Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes in Louisiana. METHODS: We implemented group-based trajectory balancing and propensity score matching to obtain comparable treatment (with NFFCCM) and control (without NFFCCM) groups at baseline. Patients with diabetes with Medicare as their primary payer at baseline were extracted using electronic health records of 3 health systems from Research Action for Health Network, a Clinical Research Network. The study period is from 2013 to early 2020. Our outcomes include general healthcare utilization (outpatient, emergency department, and inpatient encounters) and health utilization related to diabetic complications. We tested each of these outcomes according to multiple treatment definitions and different subgroups. RESULTS: Receiving any NFFCCM was associated with an increase in outpatient visits of 657 (95% confidence interval [CI] 626-687; P < .001) per 1000 patients per month, a decrease in inpatient admissions of 5 (95% CI 2-7; P < .001) per 1000 patients per month, and a decrease in emergency department visits of 4 (95% CI 1-7; P = .005) per 1000 patients per month after 24-month follow-up from initial NFFCCM encounter. Both complex and noncomplex NFFCCM significantly increased visits to outpatient services and inpatient admissions per month. Receiving NFFCCM has a dose-response association with increasing outpatient visits per month. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diabetes in Louisiana who received NFFCCM had more low-cost primary healthcare and less high-cost healthcare utilization in general. The cost savings of NFFCCM in diabetes management could be further explored in the future.

Classification of patients with chronic disease by activation level using machine learning methods.

Patient Activation Measure (PAM) measures the activation level of patients with chronic conditions and correlates well with patient adherence behavior, health outcomes, and healthcare costs. PAM is increasingly used in practice to identify patients needing more support from the care team. We define PAM levels 1 and 2 as low PAM and investigate the performance of eight machine learning methods (Logistic Regression, Lasso Regression, Ridge Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosted Trees, Support Vector Machines, Decision Trees, Neural Networks) to classify patients. Primary data collected from adult patients (n=431) with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) or Hypertension (HT) attending Family Health Centers in Istanbul, Turkey, is used to test the methods. [Formula: see text] of patients in the dataset have a low PAM level. Classification performance with several feature sets was analyzed to understand the relative importance of different types of information and provide insights. The most important features are found as whether the patient performs self-monitoring, smoking and exercise habits, education, and socio-economic status. The best performance was achieved with the Logistic Regression algorithm, with Area Under the Curve (AUC)=0.72 with the best performing feature set. Alternative feature sets with similar prediction performance are also presented. The prediction performance was inferior with an automated feature selection method, supporting the importance of using domain knowledge in machine learning.

Patient characteristics associated with the acceptability of teleconsultation: a retrospective study of osteoporotic patients post-COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teleconsultations (TCs) have become common practice for many chronic conditions, including osteoporosis. While satisfaction with TCs among patients increases in times of emergency, we have little knowledge of whether the acceptability of TCs persists once in-person visits return to being a feasible and safe option. In this study, we assess the acceptability of TCs across five dimensions for osteoporosis care among patients who started or continued with TCs after the COVID-19 pandemic had waned. We then explore the patient characteristics associated with these perceptions. METHODS: Between January and April 2022, 80 osteoporotic patients treated at the Humanitas Hospital in Milan, Italy, were recruited to answer an online questionnaire about the acceptability of TCs for their care. The acceptability of TCs was measured using a modified version of the Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire (SUTAQ), which identifies five domains of acceptability: perceived benefits, satisfaction, substitution, privacy and discomfort, and care personnel concerns. Multivariable ordinary least squares (OLS) linear regression analysis was performed to assess which patient characteristics in terms of demographics, socio-economic conditions, digital skills, social support, clinical characteristics and pattern of TC use were correlated with the five domains of acceptability measured through the SUTAQ. RESULTS: The degree of acceptability of TCs was overall good across the 80 respondents and the five domains. Some heterogeneity in perceptions emerged with respect to TCs substituting for in-person visits, negatively impacting continuity of care and reducing the length of consultations. For the most part, acceptability was not affected by patient characteristics with a few exceptions related to treatment time and familiarity with the TC service modality (i.e., length of osteoporosis treatment and number of TCs experienced by the patient). CONCLUSIONS: TCs appear to be an acceptable option for osteoporosis care in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study suggests that other characteristics besides age, digital skills and social support, which are traditionally relevant to TC acceptability, should be taken into account in order to better target this care delivery modality.

Scale-up of a chronic care model-based programme for type 2 diabetes in Belgium: a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an increasingly dominant disease. Interventions are more effective when carried out by a prepared and proactive team within an organised system - the integrated care (IC) model. The Chronic Care Model (CCM) provides guidance for its implementation, but scale-up of IC is challenging, and this hampers outcomes for T2D care. In this paper, we used the CCM to investigate the current implementation of IC in primary care in Flanders (Belgium) and its variability in different practice types. METHODS: Belgium contains three different primary-care practice types: monodisciplinary fee-for-service practices, multidisciplinary fee-for-service practices and multidisciplinary capitation-based practices. Disproportional sampling was used to select a maximum of 10 practices for each type in three Flemish regions, leading to a total of 66 practices. The study employed a mixed methods design whereby the Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (ACIC) was complemented with interviews with general practitioners, nurses and dieticians linked to the 66 practices. RESULTS: The ACIC scores of the fee-for-service practices - containing 97% of Belgian patients - only corresponded to basic support for chronic illness care for T2D. Multidisciplinary and capitation-based practices scored considerably higher than traditional monodisciplinary fee-for-service practices. The region had no significant impact on the ACIC scores. Having a nurse, being a capitation practice and having a secretary had a significant effect in the regression analysis, which explained 75% of the variance in ACIC scores. Better-performing practices were successful due to clear role-defining, task delegation to the nurse, coordination, structured use of the electronic medical record, planning of consultations and integration of self-management support, and behaviour-change intervention (internally or using community initiatives). The longer nurses work in primary care practices, the higher the chance that they perform more advanced tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Besides the presence of a nurse or secretary, also working multidisciplinary under one roof and a capitation-based financing system are important features of a system wherein IC for T2D can be scaled-up successfully. Belgian policymakers should rethink the role of paramedics in primary care and make the financing system more integrated. As the scale-up of the IC varied highly in different contexts, uniform roll-out across a health system containing multiple types of practices may not be successful.

Patient perspectives of diabetes care in primary care networks in Singapore: a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains an important chronic condition worldwide requiring integrated patient-centred care as advocated by the Chronic Care Model (CCM). The Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in Singapore organise general practitioners (GPs) with nurses and care coordinators to deliver team-based care for patients with chronic conditions. This study examined the quality of care in the PCNs as defined by the CCM from the patients' perspective. METHODS: This study followed a cross-sectional convergent mixed-method design with T2D patients across three PCN types (GP-led, Group, and Cluster). The Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC, range 1-5) was completed by a convenience sample of 343 patients. Multivariate linear regression was performed to estimate the associations between patient and service characteristics and PACIC summary score. Twenty-four participants were purposively recruited for interviews on the experienced care until thematic saturation was reached. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently and independently. Integration occurred during study design and data analysis using the CCM as guidance. Quantitative and qualitative results were compared side-by-side in a joint comparison table to develop key concepts supported by themes, subthemes, and patients' quotes. RESULTS: The PACIC mean summary score of 3.21 for 343 patients evidenced that some have received CCM consistent care in the PCNs. Being younger and spending more time with the GP were associated with higher PACIC summary scores. PACIC summary scores did not differ across PCN types. The 24 patients interviewed in the qualitative study reported receiving team-based care, nurse services, good continuity of care, as well as patient-centred care, convenient access, and affordable care. Key concepts showed that integrated care consistent with the CCM was sometimes received by patients in the PCNs. Patient activation, delivery system design/decision support, goal setting/tailoring, and problem-solving/contextual counselling were sometimes received by patients, while follow-up/coordination was generally not received. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with T2D from the Singapore Primary Care Networks received integrated care consistent with the Chronic Care Model, particularly in patient activation, delivery system design/decision support, goal setting/tailoring, and problem-solving/contextual counselling. Follow-up/coordination needed improvement to ensure higher quality of diabetes care.

Motivational Interviewing and Chronic Care Management Using the Transtheoretical Model of Change.

The number of Americans living with chronic health conditions has steadily increased. Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and cost the healthcare system an estimated $4.1 trillion dollars a year. The role of social workers in assisting patients in the management of their chronic diseases is vital. The behavioral health changes often required of chronic care management (CCM) patients require support and intervention by professionals to help the patient improve self-management of their chronic health conditions. Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based practice that helps people change by paying attention to the language patients use as they discuss their change goals and behaviors. Applying the principles and strategies of MI within the stages of change model (transtheoretical model of change) can help social workers better understand and assist patients receiving CCM. This article outlines specific strategies the social worker can use to address motivation at different stages of change.

The realities of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of the Canadian MAiD program and analyze its safeguards. METHODS: A working group of physicians from diverse practice backgrounds and a legal expert, several with bioethics expertise, reviewed Canadian MAiD data and case reports. Grey literature was also considered, including fact-checked and reliable Canadian mainstream newspapers and parliamentary committee hearings considering the expansion of MAiD. RESULTS: Several scientific studies and reviews, provincial and correctional system authorities have identified issues with MAiD practice. As well, there is a growing accumulation of narrative accounts detailing people getting MAiD due to suffering associated with a lack of access to medical, disability, and social support. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: The Canadian MAiD regime is lacking the safeguards, data collection, and oversight necessary to protect Canadians against premature death. The authors have identified these policy gaps and used MAiD cases to illustrate these findings.

Navigating the care of families with a child or children with autistic spectrum disorder.

The aim of this project was to better understand nurse navigators work with children and families who are living with severe autism spectrum disorder to achieve improved health and wellbeing outcomes. Nurse navigators were introduced into the public health sector in Queensland in 2016, with 400 navigators currently working across 16 health services in diverse geographic and demographic settings. Narrative inquiry was used to explore one nurse navigator's journey working with children and families living with severe Autism. The challenges of rigid health systems to adapt to the requirements of children with special needs, particularly in relation to care in the emergency department and where interventional procedures are necessary were apparent. Nurse navigators can effectively co-ordinate the care of an extremely vulnerable patient cohort and provide essential advocacy in a health system that is rigid and lacking the flexibility to deal with individual needs.

Knowledge exchange between patient and pharmacist: A mixed methods study to explore the role of pharmacists in patient education and counseling in asthma and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: To better understand the role of pharmacists in patient education and counselling: describe the perception of knowledge exchange (KE) between asthma/pulmonary arterial hypertension patients and pharmacists (hospital/community) according to four dimensions (4C-typology): cure (C1), care (C2); coordination/supply chain (C3), characteristics of the pathophysiology/disease mechanisms (C4); factors correlated with KE. METHODS: A mixed methods approach was used. Part A: data from semi-structured patient interviews were processed (thematic analysis), and a questionnaire developed. Part B: completed patient questionnaires were processed by correspondence factor analysis. RESULTS: KE (4C-typology) was correlated with pathology, disease severity, disease duration, age, hospital/community pharmacist. Patients expected pharmacists to provide C2/C3 services. KE with pharmacists covered C1/C2/C3, and with physicians, C1/C2/C4. While patients perceived KE as a means of self-learning to improve self-care skills, the two-way nature meant it provided specific experiential information feedback to pharmacists. CONCLUSIONS: This 4C-typology provides a holistic framework for optimising the pharmacists' role in education and counselling of patients with chronic diseases.

A Sceptics Report: Canada's Five Years Experience with Medical Termination (MAiD).

This article seeks to assess the results of legislation legalizing medical termination, known in Canada as "medical aide in dying" in 2016. Its focus, like that of previous authors, is to ask if the concerns of skeptics opposed to legalization have been realized or were they unfounded. These include the likelihood of a "slippery slope" with an expanding definition of eligibility and of MAiD deaths. Of similar concern at least since 1995 was the likelihood that, in the absence of the provision of palliative, rehabilitative, psychological and social services that medical termination would be a substitute for good medical care. These and other concerns are the basis for the review of MAiD in Canada clinically, legally and as an ethical construct.