Who are the patients who use non-pharmacological home remedies? Cross-sectional study in Switzerland and France.

BACKGROUND: Many patients may be tempted to use non-pharmacological home remedies (NPHRs) to relieve various complaints. To the best of our knowledge, there is little data on the characteristics of patients using NPHRs. In this cross-sectional study carried out between March 2020 and July 2021, we examined the socio-demographic factors underlying their use in patient populations in Switzerland and France. METHODS: Using official registries, we randomly selected 50 primary care physicians (PCPs) in Geneva (Switzerland) and Lyon/Grenoble (France). Seven research assistants consecutively recruited patients from PCP waiting rooms (20-25 patients per practice). Patients completed a paper-based questionnaire assessing the use [yes/no] of 304 NPHRs for 79 medical conditions. The NPHR list was developed by our team with input from 97 patients. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regressions, adjusting for intra-cluster correlations, to examine associations between NPHR use and patient characteristics (gender, age, practice location, nationality, education level, and self-rated health). RESULTS: Of the 1198 eligible patients, 1012 agreed to participate (85%). Overall, 635 patients (63%) reported using at least one of the remedies tested in the study. In multivariable analysis, women (OR = 1.7 [95%CI = 1.3-2.3], P-value < 0.001), younger patients (< 40 years: OR = 2.1 [95%CI = 1.6-2.9], P-value < 0.001), and French patients (OR = 1.6 [95%CI = 1.1-2.3], P-value < 0.001) tended to use NPHRs more often than other patients. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients, particularly women, young people, and French patients, reported using NPHRs. This survey's findings hold the potential to inform healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers about the diverse preferences that shape patients' healthcare choices.

Feasibility and acceptability of a primary care mentoring programme for undergraduate students.

Mentoring plays a crucial role in increasing the attractiveness of primary care careers for medical students. Based on a literature review and structured group discussions, the authors developed a primary care mentoring platform centred on undergraduate medical students' needs. All second- to sixth-year students were invited to enrol into the programme by choosing a mentor from an online platform, which was pilot tested during one academic year (2021-2022) with 16 mentors. Fifteen mentees enrolled into the pilot programme. The evaluation assessed the procedures' feasibility as well as the student-centeredness and acceptability of the programme. Mentees completed a quantitative survey evaluating satisfaction and the mentoring relationship's personal and content aspects. Mentors' feedback was collected during focus groups discussing the programme's acceptability and practical aspects. Both mentees and mentors expressed high levels of satisfaction with the programme. Mentees rated their mentoring relationships highly across most aspects. Mentees' content-related needs included postgraduate training, meeting an inspiring person, work-life balance, and questions about running a private practice. Mentors described the programme as a rewarding experience. They enjoyed the flexible structure that allowed them to adapt to the mentees' individual needs. Maintaining the relationship was mostly the mentors' responsibility. Further structured guidance from the programme coordinators was identified as potentially beneficial for future implementation. The findings highlight the feasibility and the advantages of a flexible, student-centred mentoring programme. The programme attracted students interested in primary care from all levels of undergraduate education. Such programmes may contribute to fostering students' interest in primary care careers.

Dynamics of Students' Career Choice: a Conceptual Framework-Based Qualitative Analysis Focusing on Primary Care.

BACKGROUND: Increasing primary care's attractiveness as a career choice is an important task of socially accountable medical schools. Research has broadly studied influences on medical students' career choice. However, a deeper understanding of the processes behind career decision-making could support medical schools in their efforts to promote primary care careers. OBJECTIVE: To explore the dynamics of career choice during medical school with a focus on primary care, based on a previously developed conceptual framework. APPROACH: Qualitative study using a phenomenological, inductive-deductive approach DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Individual interviews were conducted from May 2019 to January 2020 with 14 first-year postgraduate trainee physicians, graduates of the Faculty of Medicine in Geneva, Switzerland, purposively sampled based on their interest in primary care during undergraduate studies. The interview guide was developed to elicit narratives about career-related decision-making. Two authors coded the transcripts. Thematic analysis alternated with data collection until thematic saturation was reached. Emerging themes were discussed and refined within the research team. KEY RESULTS: Two main themes emerged: (1) developing professional identity, expressed as a changing professional image from unprecise and idealistic to concrete and realistic; priorities changed from content-based to lifestyle-based preferences; (2) individual trajectories of career-related decision-making, determined by different stages of refining professional interests; students navigated this process by employing various strategies, ranging from active exploration to passive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: This study's narrative approach illustrates the dynamic nature of career choice and refines elements of a conceptual framework previously developed by the authors. Its findings underline the importance of exploration, for which personal experiences and observations of physicians' work are crucial. To advance efforts to make primary care a more attractive career, students must be sufficiently exposed to primary care in a safe and individualized environment and should be supported in all stages of their career choice process.

Nonpharmacological home remedies for upper respiratory tract infections: a cross-sectional study of primary care patients in Switzerland and France.

BACKGROUND: Many patients might be tempted to use nonpharmacological home remedies (NPHRs) to relieve upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms. However, primary care physicians (PCPs) rarely recommend NPHRs due to a lack of knowledge in this field. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey among primary care patients in Switzerland and France to explore which NPHRs they use and consider effective for 3 common URTI symptoms: sore throat/cough/common cold. METHODS: Using official physician registries, we randomly selected 50 PCPs in Geneva (Switzerland) and Lyon/Grenoble (France). Seven research assistants were involved in the recruitment of consecutive patients from the waiting rooms of these PCPs (20-25 patients per practice). Patients were asked to complete a paper-based questionnaire to assess the use and perceived effectiveness of 72 NPHRs for URTI symptoms. The list of NPHRs was developed by our research team with the help of 97 patients. Remedies were considered effective if patients reported that they were effective/very effective. Data were analysed descriptively. RESULTS: Of the 1,198 eligible patients, 1,012 agreed to participate (84.5%). The 4 most frequently used NPHRs were honey/lemon/thyme/herbal teas. Most patients using these NPHRs considered them as effective (between 77% of patients for onion syrup for cough and 94% of patients for thyme inhalations for common colds). CONCLUSIONS: Many patients reported using honey/lemon/thyme/herbal teas for URTI symptoms, and generally considered these treatments to be effective. Future research should explore the extent to which these remedies can be safely proposed as alternatives for the symptomatic treatment of ear/nose/throat complaints in primary care.

Use and perceived effectiveness of non-pharmacological home remedies for digestive symptoms: a questionnaire-based survey among primary care patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients frequently visit their primary care physician (PCP) for digestive symptoms. We aimed to compile a list of non-pharmacological home remedies (NPHRs) that patients frequently use and find effective so that PCPs can then propose them to their patients with various digestive symptoms. METHODS: In this questionnaire-based survey on the use and perceived effectiveness of NPHRs for digestive symptoms, 50 randomly selected Swiss or French PCPs consecutively recruited 20-25 patients between March 2020 and July 2021. These patients were given a list of 53 NPHRs previously developed by our research team. They were asked whether they used them (Y/N) and whether they considered them to be ineffective, not very effective, moderately effective, or very effective in treating abdominal pain (14 NPHRs), bloating (2), constipation (5), diarrhoea (10), digestion trouble (12), nausea/vomiting (2) and stomach pain (8). We considered NPHRs to be perceived as effective if patients reported that they were moderately or very effective. RESULTS: A total of 1,012 patients agreed to participate in the study (participation rate = 84.5%, median age = 52 years, women = 61%). The two most frequently used NPHRs were rice cooking water for diarrhoea (29% of patients) and prunes for constipation (22%). The perceived effectiveness of the NPHRs ranged from 82% (fennel infusions for abdominal pain) to 95% (bicarbonate for stomach pain). CONCLUSION: Our data could be useful to PCPs interested in proposing NPHRs to their patients suffering from digestive disorders, and more generally to all PCPs interested in learning more about patients' use of NPHRs in primary care.

[Pilot project for a Medical Home in Geneva]. / Projet pilote de maison de santé à Genève.

The aging of the population and the increase in chronic diseases are overloading our healthcare system, with complex patients requiring more care. To meet their needs and keep them at home, interprofessional team management is necessary. The Directorate of Health of the Canton of Geneva issued a call for tenders to set up Medical Homes. We responded, were selected and have been building its various components over the past two years: identification of complex patients, setting up coordinated teams, the shared care plan, coordination with the medical assistant and the financing system. The preliminary results show its success, yet specific project management skills and financial resources are needed.

Le vieillissement de la population et l'augmentation des maladies chroniques surchargent notre système de santé, les patients complexes demandant plus de soins. Pour répondre à leurs besoins et les maintenir à domicile, une prise en charge en équipe interprofessionnelle est nécessaire. La Direction générale de la santé du canton de Genève a fait un appel d'offres pour mettre en place des maisons de santé (MdS). Nous y avons répondu et construisons depuis deux ans ses différents composants : l'identification des patients complexes, la mise en place d'équipes coordonnées, le plan de soins partagé, la coordination avec l'assistante médicale et le système de financement. Si les résultats démontrent l'intérêt de la MdS, des compétences spécifiques en gestion de projet et des ressources financières restent nécessaires.

Health-related quality of life associated with nocturnal leg cramps in primary care: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Although nocturnal leg cramps are common, little research is available about their impact on quality of life. This mixed-methods study explored the impact of nocturnal leg cramps on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS: The study included primary care patients (>50 years) who reported suffering from nocturnal leg cramps (2016-2017). In the quantitative phase, patients completed a questionnaire about their HRQoL (SF-36) and the frequency of their cramps, and we computed the SF-36 scores. Then, we conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with patients with various levels of HRQol to explore their perception of the impact of cramps on their lives. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients (49%) agreed to participate in the quantitative study (mean age: 71, women: 62%) and 15 patients were included in the qualitative study (mean age: 69, women: 67%). The number of cramps in the previous week was low (mean: 1.6 (SD 1.5)). The SF-36 mean physical and mental summary scores were 43 and 50, respectively, and the domain scores were similar to a comparative general population. Whilst some patients reported little interference with their daily lives, others reported a major decrease in their HRQoL. SF-36 scores were not sufficient to describe the cramp-related impairment, as patients from all levels of SF-36 scores reported major impacts of NLC in the interviews. CONCLUSIONS: Some patients describe a specific impact of cramps on their lives, regardless of their HRQoL. These patients should be the target of future intervention trials.

[Use of non-pharmacological home remedies in ENT: research informs our practices and those of our patients]. / Emploi des remèdes de grand-mère en ORL : la recherche éclaire nos pratiques et celles de nos patients.

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are a common presenting condition in family medicine. The vast majority of URTIs are treated symptomatically with pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatments. This article presents some of the results of our research projects to compile a list of non-pharmacological home remedies to relieve symptoms such as sore throat, coughs and colds. Honey, thyme or lemon are often used by patients and considered to be effective. These remedies have few side-effects, and we therefore propose to include them in the range of treatments that can be proposed in family medicine.

Les infections des voies respiratoires supérieures (IVRS) constituent un motif de consultation fréquent en médecine de famille. La grande majorité des IVRS fait l'objet d'un traitement symptomatique pharmacologique ou non pharmacologique. Cet article se base sur une partie des résultats de nos projets de recherche pour constituer une liste de remèdes de grand-mère à proposer aux patients pour soulager des symptômes tels que les maux de gorge, la toux et le rhume. Le miel, le thym ou le citron sont souvent utilisés par les patients et considérés comme étant efficaces. Ces remèdes présentent peu d'effets indésirables et nous proposons donc de les intégrer dans l'arsenal thérapeutique en médecine de famille.

[COPD: Guidelines for primary care physicians]. / BPCO: recommandations pour les médecins de premiers recours.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is common and should be suspected in any patient with chronic dyspnea, cough, or sputum with a history of exposure to tobacco or harmful particles. Spirometry is used for diagnosis. Full evaluation includes the severity of obstruction and clinical data, following the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines. Although the only treatments that have an impact on mortality are tobacco cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation and, for advanced disease, oxygen therapy, new symptomatic treatment have recently been made available. The duration of antibiotic and corticosteroid treatment for exacerbations has been shortened. The new diagnostic and management recommendations are summarized in this article.

La bronchopneumopathie chronique obstructive (BPCO) est fréquente et doit être suspectée chez tout patient présentant une dyspnée, une toux ou des expectorations chroniques avec une anamnèse d'exposition au tabac ou à des particules nuisibles. La spirométrie permet son diagnostic. Son évaluation se base sur la sévérité de l'obstruction et la clinique et tient compte des recommandations du guide de la Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Bien que les seuls traitements impactant la survie soient l'arrêt du tabac, la réhabilitation respiratoire et tardivement l'oxygénothérapie, des nouveautés sont apparues dans l'arsenal thérapeutique symptomatique. La durée du traitement antibiotique et corticostéroïde des exacerbations est raccourcie. Les nouvelles recommandations diagnostiques et de prise en charge sont résumées dans cet article.

[New approaches to risk and the use of electronic tools in primary care medicine in 2021]. / Approches du risque et usage d'outils électroniques en médecine de premier recours en 2021.

Our selection of articles published in 2021 sheds light on topics related to risk, and to the use of electronic tools in primary care medicine. They cover blood pressure targets, telemonitoring, and the omega-3 fatty acid diet in the elderly and/or in patients with high cardiovascular risk. They present the role of primary care physicians in the management of patients with NAFLD, and in screening for domestic violence in all couples. They assess the risk of recurrence of a depressive episode after stopping antidepressant treatment. Finally, they discuss the place of apps to communicate with foreign-speaking patients and of vaping in smoking cessation.

Notre sélection d'articles parus en 2021 propose un éclairage sur des sujets en lien avec le risque chez nos patient·e·s et l'usage d'outils électroniques. Ils abordent le thème des cibles tensionnelles, du télémonitoring, et du régime riche en acides gras oméga 3 chez la personne âgée et/ou à haut risque cardiovasculaire. Ils présentent le rôle des médecins de premier recours dans la prise en charge de patient·e·s avec une stéatopathie métabolique, et dans le dépistage des violences conjugales dans tous les couples. Ils évaluent les risques de récidive d'épisode dépressif à l'arrêt d'un traitement antidépresseur. Enfin, ils discutent la place des applications pour la communication avec les patient·e·s allophones et du vapotage dans l'arrêt du tabac.

How Do Patients Want Us to Use the Computer During Medical Encounters?-A Discrete Choice Experiment Study.

BACKGROUND: Primary care physicians (PCPs) now widely use electronic health records (EHRs) during medical encounters. Experts in clinical communication issued recommendations for a patient-centered use of EHRs. However, they have never been validated by patients themselves. OBJECTIVE: To explore patients' preferences regarding physicians' EHR-related behaviors. DESIGN: Discrete choice experiment study. PATIENTS: French-speaking patients waiting for a medical consultation at two outpatient clinics in Geneva, Switzerland. MAIN MEASURES: We invited patients to watch videos displaying 2 or 3 variations of four specific EHR-related behaviors and asked them to indicate which one they preferred. EHR-related behaviors were (1) typing: continuous/intermittent/handwriting in biomedical or psychosocial focused consultations; (2) maintaining contact while typing: visual/verbal/both; (3) signposting the use of EHR: with/without; (4) position of physicians' hands and bust: on the keyboard and towards the patient/away from the keyboard and towards the patient/on the keyboard and towards the screen. KEY RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-six patients participated (response rate 61.4%). They preferred intermittent typing versus handwriting or continuous typing for biomedical issues (32.7%; 95% CI: 26.0-40.2% vs 31.6%; 95% CI: 24.9-39.0% or 14.9%; 95% CI: 10.2-21.1%) and psychosocial issues (38.7%; 95% CI: 31.6-46.3% vs 24.4% 95% CI: 18.4-31.5% or 17.9%; 95% CI; 12.7-24.4%). They favored visual and verbal contact (38.9%; 95% CI: 31.9-46.3%) over verbal (30.3%; 95% CI: 23.9-37.5%) or visual contact only (11.4%; 95% CI: 7.5-17.1%) while the doctor was typing. A majority preferred signposting the use of EHR versus no signposting (58.9%; 95% CI: 53.5-64.0% vs 34.8%; 95% CI: 29.9-40.1%). Finally, half of the patients (49.7%; 95% CI: 42.0-57.4%) favored the position with the physician's bust towards the patient and hands away from the keyboard. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that patients' preferences regarding EHR-related behaviors are in line with most experts' recommendations. Such recommendations should be more consistently integrated into under- and postgraduate communication skills training.

Primary care prevention of cardiovascular risk behaviors in adolescents: A systematic review.

Adolescence is associated with behavioral changes offering opportunities for prevention of cardiovascular risk behaviors. Primary care physicians are ideally placed to deliver preventive interventions to adolescents. The objective was to systematically review the evidence about effectiveness of primary care-led interventions addressing the main cardiovascular risk behaviors in adolescents: physical activity, sedentary behaviors, diet and smoking. PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ISRCTN registry were searched from January 1990 to April 2020. Randomized controlled trials of interventions in primary care contexts on at least one of the cardiovascular behaviors were included, targeting 10-19-year old adolescents, according to the World Health Organization's definition. Two authors independently assessed risk of bias. Twenty-two papers were included in the narrative synthesis, reporting on 18 different studies. Interventions targeting smoking uptake seemed more effective than interventions targeting established smoking or the three other risk behaviors. Intervention components or intensity were not clearly associated with effectiveness. Risk of bias was mostly unclear for most studies. There is little evidence for specific interventions on adolescents' cardiovascular risk behaviors in primary care, mainly due to studies' methodological limitations. Further research should investigate the effectiveness of opportunistic primary care-based interventions as compared to more complex interventions, and address the methodological shortcomings identified in this review.

Self-reported symptoms in French primary care SARS-CoV-2 patients: association with gender and age group.

INTRODUCTION: The early identification of COVID-19 patients is of outmost importance in the current pandemic. As with other pathogens, presenting symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 may vary, depending on sociodemographic factors. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients by age/gender and to assess whether the diagnostic performance of these symptoms varied according to these variables. METHODS: We analysed data from a cross-sectional study involving primary care patients undergoing RT-PCR testing in Lyon, France. Among patients who tested positive, we examined whether there was an association between age/gender and various symptoms. In addition, we calculated the diagnostic performance of the most specific symptoms (smell/taste disorder). RESULTS: Among 1543 consecutive patients, 253 tested positive (16%). There were significant age/gender-related differences in symptoms. In middle-aged women, the diagnostic performance of smell/taste disorders were AUC = 0.65 [95%CI 0.59-0.71] and PPV = 72% [95%CI 53-87%], that is higher than in the entire sample (smell/taste disorders: AUC = 0.59 [95%CI 0.57-0.62] and PPV = 57% [95%CI 47-67%]. In contrast, the negative predictive values of smell/taste disorders were similar in both groups (85% [95%CI 81-89%] for middle-age women and 86% [95%CI 85-88%] for the entire sample). CONCLUSION: We found significant age/gender-related differences in the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients. Screening strategies based on smell/taste disorders performed better in middle-aged women, but could not ensure a diagnosis of COVID-19 in any subgroup of patients. Future diagnostic strategies should use age/gender differentiated approaches.

Three monthly doses of 150,000 IU of oral cholecalciferol correct vitamin D deficiency in adolescents: A pragmatic study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of an oral high-dose cholecalciferol regimen in correcting vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in adolescents and to explore potential predictive factors on the response to treatment. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review conducted in the Adolescent Outpatient Clinic, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland. One hundred-three otherwise healthy vitamin D deficient [serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D, level <50 nmol/L] adolescents (mean age 16.6) attending the clinic between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2018 received 150,000 IU of oral cholecalciferol every month for 3 months (cumulative dose of 450,000 IU). We measured the change in serum 25(OH)D levels pre- and post-treatment and the achievement of serum 25(OH)D level post-treatment ≥75 nmol/L. RESULTS: The mean serum 25(OH)D level increased by 320%, from 26 nmol/L at baseline to 83 nmol/L at the end of the study (P < .001). The rise was significantly higher for patients initially tested in the winter/spring (mean 65 nmol/L) compared with those initially tested in the summer/autumn (mean 48 nmol/L) (P < .003). No clear relationship was found between the response to treatment and the vitamin D status at baseline. The effect of age, gender, origin and body mass index was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The present intermittent high-dose regimen is effective in treating VDD in healthy adolescents without significant variations in response between different subgroups.

Shifting palliative care paradigm in primary care from better death to better end-of-life: a Swiss pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Patients suffering from advanced cancer often loose contact with their primary care physician (PCP) during oncologic treatment and palliative care is introduced very late. The aim of this pilot study was to test the feasibility and procedures for a randomized trial of an intervention to teach PCPs a palliative care approach and communication skills to improve advanced cancer patients' quality of life. METHODS: Observational pilot study in 5 steps. 1) Recruitment of PCPs. 2) Intervention: training on palliative care competencies and communication skills addressing end-of-life issues. 3) Recruitment of advanced cancer patients by PCPs. 4) Patients follow-up by PCPs, and assessment of their quality of life by a research assistant 5) Feedback from PCPs using a semi-structured focus group and three individual interviews with qualitative deductive theme analysis. RESULTS: Eight PCPs were trained. Patient recruitment was a challenge for PCPs who feared to impose additional loads on their patients. PCPs became more conscious of their role and responsibility during oncologic treatments and felt empowered to take a more active role picking up patient's cues and addressing advance directives. They developed interprofessional collaborations for advance care planning. Overall, they discovered the role to help patients to make decisions for a better end-of-life. CONCLUSIONS: While the intervention was acceptable to PCPs, recruitment was a challenge and a follow up trial was not deemed feasible using the current design but PCPs reported a change in paradigm about palliative care. They moved from a focus on helping patients to die better, to a new role helping patients to define the conditions for a better end-of-life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The ethics committee of the canton of Geneva approved the study (2018-00077 Pilot Study) in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

[Innovating to understand the unknown : COVID-19 pandemic research in family medicine]. / Innover pour comprendre l'inconnu : recherche sur la pandémie de Covid-19 en médecine de famille.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges that sparked a multitude of research questions at the Institutes of Family Medicine in Geneva and Lausanne. This article presents a synthesis of these questions, and the research projects that have resulted from them.

Les défis posés par la pandémie de Covid-19 ont éveillé une multitude de questions de recherche au sein des instituts de médecine de famille de Genève et Lausanne. Cet article présente une synthèse de ces questions et des projets de recherche qui en découlent.

[Integrative and complementary primary care medicine: new evidence in 2020]. / Médecine complémentaire intégrative : nouveautés utiles en médecine de premier recours.

Integrative medicine proposes a coordinated approach to conventional medicine and complementary treatments. This approach is of particular interest in the field of prevention and in comprehensive primary care. This article presents some key studies published in 2020, which highlight the potential benefits of an integrative approach in primary care medicine.

La médecine intégrative permet de coordonner médecine conventionnelle et traitements complémentaires. Cette approche est particulièrement intéressante dans le domaine de la prévention et dans la prise en charge globale en médecine de premier recours. Cet article présente quelques études clés, publiées en 2020, qui mettent en lumière les bénéfices potentiels d'une approche intégrative en médecine de premier recours.

General practitioners' perspectives on barriers to depression care: development and validation of a questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: General practitioners (GPs) regularly feel challenged by the care of depressed patients and may encounter several barriers in providing best management. GPs' perspectives on barriers to depression care are a subject of growing interest but there is a lack of validated assessment tools. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire assessing barriers to depression care (BDC-Q) encountered by GPs in France and the French-speaking part of Switzerland. METHODS: The BDC-Q was constructed in five steps: Item development, content validation, pretesting, testing phase and test-retest reliability. The questionnaire items were generated through a literature search. An expert panel of GPs (n = 16) and psychiatrists (n = 3) validated the content and 20 GPs pretested the questionnaire to provide response process validity evidence. We then tested the questionnaire among 116 GPs and used principal component analysis and internal consistency testing (Cronbach's alpha) to structure it into consistent dimensions. Test-retest reliability using Pearson correlation coefficient was assessed with 30 GPs who completed the questionnaire twice after an interval of at least 2 weeks. RESULTS: The 25 items BDC-Q was structured in five dimensions: (i) provision of care by the general practitioner, (ii) considering patients' attitudes towards depression, (iii) guidance for care, (iv) collaboration with mental health specialists and (v) access to mental health care. CONCLUSIONS: The BDC-Q displays evidence of validity and reliability to meaningfully assess GPs' perspectives on barriers to depression care. It can be used both at a practice level within a quality improvement strategy, and at a broader level, to inform health planners and tailor appropriate strategies to improve depression care in the community.

A cross-sectional study of Swiss ambulatory care services use by multimorbid patients in primary care in the light of the Andersen model.

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity is frequently encountered in primary care and is associated with increasing use of healthcare services. The Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use is a multilevel framework classifying societal, contextual, and individual characteristics about the use of healthcare services into three categories: 1. predisposing factors, 2. enabling factors, and 3. need factors. The present study aimed to explore multimorbid patients' use of ambulatory healthcare in terms of homecare and other allied health services, visits to GPs, and number of specialists involved. A secondary aim was to apply Andersen's model to explore factors associated with this use. METHOD: In a cross-sectional study, 100 Swiss GPs enrolled up to 10 multimorbid patients each. After descriptive analyses, we tested the associations of each determinant and outcome variable of healthcare use, according to the Andersen model: predisposing factors (patient's demographics), enabling factors (health literacy (HLS-EU-Q6), deprivation (DipCare)), and need factors (patient's quality of life (EQ-5D-3L), treatment burden (TBQ), severity index (CIRS), number of chronic conditions, and of medications). Logistic regressions (dichotomous variables) and negative binomial regressions (count variables) were calculated to identify predictors of multimorbid patients' healthcare use. RESULTS: Analyses included 843 multimorbid patients; mean age 73.0 (SD 12.0), 28-98 years old; 48.3% men; 15.1% (127/843) used homecare. Social deprivation (OR 0.75, 95%CI 0.62-0.89) and absence of an informal caregiver (OR 0.50, 95%CI 0.28-0.88) were related to less homecare services use. The use of other allied health services (34.9% (294/843)) was associated with experiencing pain (OR 2.49, 95%CI 1.59-3.90). The number of contacts with a GP (median 11 (IQR 7-16)) was, among other factors, related to the absence of an informal caregiver (IRR 0.90, 95%CI 0.83-0.98). The number of specialists involved (mean 1.9 (SD 1.4)) was linked to the treatment burden (IRR 1.06, 95%CI 1.02-1.10). CONCLUSION: Multimorbid patients in primary care reported high use of ambulatory healthcare services variably associated with the Andersen model's factors: healthcare use was associated with objective medical needs but also with contextual or individual predisposing or enabling factors. These findings emphasize the importance of adapting care coordination to individual patient profiles.

[How can we intensify research efforts in primary care? A conceptual framework]. / Comment intensifier les efforts de recherche pour une médecine de famille basée sur les preuves ? - Proposition de cadre conceptuel.

In primary care, guidelines often conflict with a holistic approach to the patient's problems. This highlights both the unmet needs for evidence necessary to primary care daily decisions and the need to develop primary care research. One of the first steps to improve primary care research is to ground research initiatives into primary care practice. We propose to shape general research procedures using a framework exploring the convergent dynamics leading to shared clinical decision. In this dynamic representation, primary care research gathers new evidence from clinical states and circumstances, patients' preferences and actions, and clinical expertise. These data can feed a loop leading to enhanced clinical expertise through the uptake of research findings into routine healthcare in clinical contexts.

La consultation de médecine de famille (MF) est caractérisée par des aspects épidémiologiques et phénoménologiques différents de ceux des autres spécialités. Malheureusement, les données provenant de recherches spécifiques à la MF font souvent défaut. Nous avons développé un cadre conceptuel permettant d'ancrer les recherches dans la pratique de la MF. Nous illustrons comment utiliser ce cadre pour 1) façonner les questions de recherche, 2) concevoir les méthodes correspondantes, 3) mener les études et 4) anticiper l'implémentation des données issues de la recherche. L'utilisation d'un tel cadre conceptuel est une aide potentielle pour répondre au défi de l'implication des médecins de famille dans la genèse des questions posées, la collecte des données et l'implémentation des preuves dans la pratique quotidienne.