Perspectives on low-value care and barriers to de-implementation among primary care physicians: a multinational survey.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare costs are rising worldwide. At the same time, a considerable proportion of care does not benefit or may even be harmful to patients. We aimed to explore attitudes towards low-value care and identify the most important barriers to the de-implementation of low-value care use in primary care in high-income countries. METHODS: Between May and June 2022, we email surveyed primary care physicians in six high-income countries (Austria, Finland, Greece, Italy, Japan, and Sweden). Physician respondents were eligible if they had worked in primary care during the previous 24 months. The survey included four sections with categorized questions on (1) background information, (2) familiarity with Choosing Wisely recommendations, (3) attitudes towards overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and (4) barriers to de-implementation, as well as a section with open-ended questions on interventions and possible facilitators for de-implementation. We used descriptive statistics to present the results. RESULTS: Of the 16,935 primary care physicians, 1,731 answered (response rate 10.2%), 1,505 had worked in primary care practice in the last 24 months and were included in the analysis. Of the respondents, 53% had read Choosing Wisely recommendations. Of the respondents, 52% perceived overdiagnosis and 50% overtreatment as at least a problem to some extent in their own practice. Corresponding figures were 85% and 81% when they were asked regarding their country's healthcare. Respondents considered patient expectations (85% answered either moderate or major importance), patient's requests for treatments and tests (83%), fear of medical error (81%), workload/lack of time (81%), and fear of underdiagnosis or undertreatment (79%) as the most important barriers for de-implementation. Attitudes and perceptions of barriers differed significantly between countries. CONCLUSIONS: More than 80% of primary care physicians consider overtreatment and overdiagnosis as a problem in their country's healthcare but fewer (around 50%) in their own practice. Lack of time, fear of error, and patient pressures are common barriers to de-implementation in high-income countries and should be acknowledged when planning future healthcare. Due to the wide variety of barriers to de-implementation and differences in their importance in different contexts, understanding local barriers is crucial when planning de-implementation strategies.

Understanding child development and care integrality: Primary Health Care doctors and nurses' view.

OBJECTIVE: To identify perceptions of primary care health professionals regarding the conceptual aspects of child development and propose strategies to address difficulties. METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in a small municipality in the countryside of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The primary health care in this region is comprised of Family Health Units and Basic Health Units. The sample included 52 participants, consisting of doctors and primary care nurses. A questionnaire with open and closed questions was utilized, covering knowledge and practices related to child development. For this study, the first question of the questionnaire, which asked for a descriptive response about participants' understanding of child development, was employed. The responses were transcribed, and content analysis using the thematic approach was conducted. RESULTS: Among the participants, 54% were nurses, and the average duration of working with the pediatric population was ten years. 80% reported never having undergone training in child development. The analysis of the responses revealed heterogeneity in the professionals' understanding of the conceptual dimension of child development. Additionally, there was an insufficient grasp of the theoretical and practical aspects and a scarcity of resources to support comprehensive care for children. A predominant biomedical model focusing on disease and biological aspects of child health was evident in defining the understanding of the subject. CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the necessity of implementing health education initiatives and service projects in primary care settings. It is crucial to strengthen a comprehensive perspective of child health within the biopsychosocial model of the health-disease process.

Clinician-Level Knowledge and Barriers to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance.

Importance: Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis is underused. Identifying potentially modifiable factors to address barriers in HCC surveillance is critical to improve patient outcomes. Objective: To evaluate clinician-level factors contributing to underuse of HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: This survey study included primary care clinicians (PCCs) and gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians at 5 safety-net health systems in the US. Clinicians were surveyed from March 15 to September 15, 2023, to assess knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, perceived barriers, and COVID-19-related disruptions in HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis. Data were analyzed from October to November 2023. Main Outcome and Measures: HCC surveillance knowledge was assessed with 6 questions querying the respondent's ability to correctly identify appropriate use of HCC surveillance. Attitudes, perceived barriers, and beliefs regarding HCC surveillance and perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions with HCC surveillance were assessed with a series of statements using a 4-point Likert scale and compared PCCs and gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians. Results: Overall, 347 of 1362 clinicians responded to the survey (25.5% response rate), among whom 142 of 237 (59.9%) were PCCs, 48 of 237 (20.3%) gastroenterology and hepatology, 190 of 236 (80.5%) were doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathic medicine, and 46 of 236 (19.5%) were advanced practice clinicians. On HCC knowledge assessment, 144 of 270 (53.3%) scored 5 or more of 6 questions correctly, 37 of 48 (77.1%) among gastroenterology and hepatology vs 65 of 142 (45.8%) among PCCs (P < .001). Those with higher HCC knowledge scores were less likely to report barriers to HCC surveillance. PCCs were more likely to report inadequate time to discuss HCC surveillance (37 of 139 [26.6%] vs 2 of 48 [4.2%]; P = .001), difficulty identifying patients with cirrhosis (82 of 141 [58.2%] vs 5 of 48 [10.4%]; P < .001), and were not up-to-date with HCC surveillance guidelines (87 of 139 [62.6%] vs 5 of 48 [10.4%]; P < .001) compared with gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians. While most acknowledged delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, 62 of 136 PCCs (45.6%) and 27 of 45 gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians (60.0%) reported that patients with cirrhosis could currently complete HCC surveillance without delays. Conclusions and Relevance: In this survey study, important gaps in knowledge and perceived barriers to HCC surveillance were identified. Effective delivery of HCC education to PCCs and health system-level interventions must be pursued in parallel to address the complex barriers affecting suboptimal HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis.

[Top 4 Research Studies of the month for Italian Primary Care Physicians: April 2024.] / La Top 4 di aprile 2024. Gli studi clinici che vale la pena conoscere se lavori nelle cure primarie in Italia.

This monthly article provides a collection of summaries of the most relevant studies identified as POEMs (patient-oriented evidence that matters) for Italian primary care physicians. 1) In children and adults with acute conjunctivitis, antibiotic drops increase the likelihood that a patient will experience clinical recovery. Damage appears to be minimal for all agents other than fusidic acid (therefore, fusidic acid should be avoided). Since most patients improve without antibiotics, the benefit is modest, and there is a risk of antibiotic resistance, we would avoid them for patients with milder symptoms, especially immunocompetent adults. 2) A high quality randomized controlled trial was recently conducted on more than 4000 adult patients with recurrent episodes of subclinical atrial fibrillation. Trialists found that there was approximately 1 fewer ischemic stroke and 1 more major bleed for every 250 persons treated with apixaban instead of aspirin, but in people treated with apixaban major bleeding was also significantly more likely. This seems like a decision that requires an informed patient and shared decision-making. 3) In an intriguing but somewhat limited network meta-analysis, probiotics were equally or more effective than treatment with any antidepressant except escitalopram. Given the low advantage of standard treatments over placebo, probiotic treatment might be offered to patients who are reluctant to use antidepressants. 4) A recent meta-analysis showed that amyloid-targeting monoclonal antibodies do not provide any clinical meaningful benefits for patients with Alzheimer disease. Instead, they are associated with concerning risks of harm, most notably cerebral hemorrhage identified on imaging studies. The balance of risk versus benefit demonstrated thus far doesn't justify the use of these costly (over US$ 20,000 annually) drugs.

Access to primary health care: perspectives of primary care physicians and community stakeholders.

BACKGROUND: Action on the social determinants of health is important to strengthen primary health care and promote access among underserved populations. We report on findings from stakeholder consultations undertaken at one of the Canadian sites of the Innovative Models Promoting Access-to-Care Transformation (IMPACT) program, as part of the development of a best practice intervention to improve access to primary health care. The overarching objective of this qualitative study was to understand the processes, barriers, and facilitators to connect patients to health enabling community resources (HERs) to inform a patient navigation model situated in primary care. METHODS: Focus groups and interviews were conducted with primary care physicians, and community health and social service providers to understand their experiences in supporting patients in reaching HERs. Current gaps in access to primary health care and the potential of patient navigation were also explored. We applied Levesque et al., (2013) access framework to code the data and four themes emerged: (1) Approachability and Ability to Perceive, (2) Acceptability and Ability to Seek, (3) Availability and Accommodation, and Ability to Reach, and (4) Appropriateness. RESULTS: Determinants of access included patient and provider awareness of HERs, the nature of the patient-provider relationship, funding of HERs, integration of primary and community care services, and continuity of information. Participants' perspectives about the potential scope and role of a patient navigator provided valuable insight for the development of the Access to Resources in the Community (ARC) navigation model and how it could be embedded in a primary care setting. CONCLUSION: Additional consultation with key stakeholders in the health region is needed to gain a broader understanding of the challenges in caring for primary care patients with social barriers and how to support them in accessing community-based primary health care to inform the design of the ARC intervention.

Barriers, facilitators and needs to deprescribe benzodiazepines and other sedatives in older adults: a mixed methods study of primary care provider perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Benzodiazepines and other sedative hypnotic drugs (BSHs) are frequently prescribed for sleep problems, but cause substantial adverse effects, particularly in older adults. Improving knowledge on barriers, facilitators and needs of primary care providers (PCPs) to BSH deprescribing could help reduce BSH use and thus negative effects. METHODS: We conducted a mixed methods study (February-May 2023) including a survey, semi-structured interviews and focus groups with PCPs in Switzerland. We assessed barriers, facilitators and needs of PCPs to BSH deprescribing. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, qualitative data deductively and inductively using the Theoretical Domain Framework (TDF). Quantitative and qualitative data were integrated using meta-interferences. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 126 PCPs (53% female) and 16 PCPs participated to a focus group or individual interview. The main barriers to BSH deprescribing included patient and PCP lack of knowledge on BSH effects and side effects, lack of PCP education on treatment of sleep problems and BSH deprescribing, patient lack of motivation, PCP lack of time, limited access to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and absence of public dialogue on BSHs. Facilitators included informing on side effects to motivate patients to discontinue BSHs and start of deprescribing during a hospitalization. Main PCP needs were practical recommendations for pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of sleep problems and deprescribing schemes. Patient brochures were wished by 69% of PCPs. PCPs suggested the brochures to contain explanations about risks and benefits of BSHs, sleep hygiene and sleep physiology, alternative treatments, discontinuation process and tapering schemes. CONCLUSION: The barriers and facilitators as well as PCP needs and opinions on patient material we identified can be used to develop PCP training and material on BSH deprescribing, which could help reduce the inappropriate use of BSHs for sleep problems.

Approach to Patients with Seizures and Epilepsy: A Guide for Primary Care Physicians.

Seizures and epilepsy are common neurologic conditions that are frequently encountered in the outpatient primary care setting. An accurate diagnosis relies on a thorough clinical history and evaluation. Understanding seizure semiology and classification is crucial in conducting the initial assessment. Knowledge of common seizure triggers and provoking factors can further guide diagnostic testing and initial management. The pharmacodynamic characteristics and side effect profiles of anti-seizure medications are important considerations when deciding treatment and counseling patients, particularly those with comorbidities and in special populations such as patient of childbearing potential.

Claims data analysis of provider-to-provider tele-mentoring program impact on opioid prescribing in Missouri.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess opioid prescribing patterns of primary care providers (PCPs) participating in a virtual tele-mentoring program for patients with chronic pain as compared to nonparticipants. DESIGN: We utilized Missouri Medicaid claims from 2013 to 2021 to compare opioid prescription dosages and daily supply of opioids prescribed by PCPs. Participants and nonparticipants were matched using propensity score matching. SETTING: Missouri Medicaid data were received through partnership with the Center for Health Policy's MO HealthNet Data Project, the state's leading provider of Medicaid data. PARTICIPANTS: Missouri-based prescribers. INTERVENTION: Show-Me Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO), an evidence-based provider-to-provider telehealth intervention that connects PCPs with a team of specialists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We compared the rate of prescription opioid >50 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), mean MMEs/day, and mean number of daily supply to understand the impact of the ECHO model on providers' opioid prescribing. RESULTS: Patients treated by ECHO providers have 33 percent lower odds of being prescribed opioid dose >50 MME/day (p < 0.001) compared to non-ECHO providers. There is also a 14 percent reduction in the average opioid dose prescribed to patients of ECHO providers (p < 0.001). We observed a 3 percent (p < 0.001) reduction in average daily supply of opioids among patients of ECHO providers compared to the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: Pain Management ECHO supports PCPs with needed education and skills to provide specialty care in the management of pain conditions and safe prescribing of opioid medications.

Clinician Barriers to Ordering Pulmonary Function Tests for Adults with Suspected Asthma.

BACKGROUND: Primary care clinicians do not adhere to national and international guidelines recommending pulmonary function testing (PFTs) in patients with suspected asthma. Little is known about why that occurs. Our objective was to assess clinician focused barriers to ordering PFTs. METHODS: An internet-based 11-item survey of primary care clinicians at a large safety-net institution was conducted between August 2021 and November 2021. This survey assessed barriers and possible electronic health record (EHR) solutions to ordering PFTs. One of the survey questions contained an open-ended question about barriers which was analyzed qualitatively. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 59% (117/200). The top 3 reported barriers included beliefs that testing will not change management, distance to testing site, and the physical effort it takes to complete testing. Clinicians were in favor of an EHR intervention to prompt them to order PFTs. Responses to the open-ended question also conveyed that objective testing does not change management. DISCUSSION: PFTs improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce inappropriate therapies. Of the barriers we identified, the most modifiable is to educate clinicians about how PFTs can change management. That in conjunction with an EHR prompt, which clinicians approved of, may lead to guideline congruent and improved quality in asthma care.

The use of medical health applications by primary care physicians in Israel: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The use of medical health applications (mHealth apps) by patients, caregivers, and physicians is widespread. mHealth apps are often employed by physicians to quickly access professional knowledge, guide treatment, easily retrieve medical records, and monitor and manage patients. This study sought to characterize the use of mHealth apps among primary care physicians (PCPs) in Israel. The reasons for using apps and barriers to their use were also investigated. METHODS: From all MHS' PCPs, we randomly selected 700 PCPs and invited them to complete a questionnaire regarding the use of mHealth apps and attitudes toward them. RESULTS: From August 2020 to December 2020, 191 physicians completed the questionnaire (response rate 27.3%). 68.0% of PCPs reported using mHealth apps. Telemedicine service apps were the most frequently used. Medical calculators (used for clinical scoring) and differential diagnosis apps were the least frequently used. The most common reason for mHealth app use was accessibility, followed by time saved and a sense of information reliability. Among infrequent users of apps, the most common barriers reported were unfamiliarity with relevant apps and preference for using a computer. Concerns regarding information reliability were rarely reported by PCPs. Physician gender and seniority were not related to mHealth app use. Physician age was related to the use of mHealth apps. CONCLUSIONS: mHealth apps are widely used by PCPs in this study, regardless of physician gender or seniority. Information from mHealth apps is considered reliable by PCPs. The main barrier to app use is unfamiliarity with relevant apps and preference for computer use.

Provider Perceptions of an Electronic Health Record Prostate Cancer Screening Tool.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a focus group to assess the attitudes of primary care physicians (PCPs) toward prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-screening algorithms, perceptions of using decision support tools, and features that would make such tools feasible to implement. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team (primary care, urology, behavioral sciences, bioinformatics) developed the decision support tool that was presented to a focus group of 10 PCPs who also filled out a survey. Notes and audio-recorded transcripts were analyzed using Thematic Content Analysis. RESULTS: The survey showed that PCPs followed different guidelines. In total, 7/10 PCPs agreed that engaging in shared decision-making about PSA screening was burdensome. The majority (9/10) had never used a decision aid for PSA screening. Although 70% of PCPs felt confident about their ability to discuss PSA screening, 90% still felt a need for a provider-facing platform to assist in these discussions. Three major themes emerged: (1) confirmatory reactions regarding the importance, innovation, and unmet need for a decision support tool embedded in the electronic health record; (2) issues around implementation and application of the tool in clinic workflow and PCPs' own clinical bias; and (3) attitudes/reflections regarding discrepant recommendations from various guideline groups that cause confusion. CONCLUSION: There was overwhelmingly positive support for the need for a provider-facing decision support tool to assist with PSA-screening decisions in the primary care setting. PCPs appreciated that the tool would allow flexibility for clinical judgment and documentation of shared decision-making. Incorporation of suggestions from this focus group into a second version of the tool will be used in subsequent pilot testing.

Assessment and management of chronic insomnia disorder: an algorithm for primary care physicians.

BACKGROUND: Primary care physicians often lack resources and training to correctly diagnose and manage chronic insomnia disorder. Tools supporting chronic insomnia diagnosis and management could fill this critical gap. A survey was conducted to understand insomnia disorder diagnosis and treatment practices among primary care physicians, and to evaluate a diagnosis and treatment algorithm on its use, to identify ways to optimize it specifically for these providers. METHODS: A panel of experts developed an algorithm for diagnosing and treating chronic insomnia disorder, based on current guidelines and experience in clinical practice. An online survey was conducted with primary care physicians from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, who treat chronic insomnia patients, between January and February 2023. A sub-sample of participants provided open-ended feedback on the algorithm and gave suggestions for improvements. RESULTS: Overall, 106 primary care physicians completed the survey. Half (52%, 55/106) reported they did not regularly screen for insomnia and half (51%, 54/106) felt they did not have enough time to address patients' needs in relation to insomnia or trouble sleeping. The majority (87%,92/106) agreed the algorithm would help diagnose chronic insomnia patients and 82% (87/106) agreed the algorithm would help improve their clinical practice in relation to managing chronic insomnia. Suggestions for improvements were making the algorithm easier to read and use. CONCLUSION: The algorithm developed for, and tested by, primary care physicians to diagnose and treat chronic insomnia disorder may offer significant benefits to providers and their patients through ensuring standardization of insomnia diagnosis and management.

Procedural skills workshops for primary care physicians in Israel: a comprehensive analysis.

BACKGROUND: Some of the most common complaints addressed by primary care physicians (PCPs) require manual procedures, such as lacerations repair, abscesses drainage, ingrown toenails removal, dry needling for myofascial pain syndrome, and Epley maneuver for treating benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). The aim of this study was to describe the procedural skills workshops program for PCPs implemented in Maccabi Healthcare Services and to investigate how many PCPs have participated and used the skills since the program's inception in 2017. METHODS: In this observational study, we followed all participants in courses from 2017 to 2021. We extracted all procedures performed during these years by PCPs who learned the skill in MHS. RESULTS: During the study period, 620 PCPs participated in workshops for dry needling, soft-tissue and joint injections, BPPV treatment, minor surgical procedures, and spirometry. Most procedures performed were dry needling (average annual number 3,537) and minor surgical procedures (average annual number 361). The average annual use per physician was highest for dry needling (annual average use per physician who used the learned skill was 50.9), followed by soft tissue and joint injections (16.8), minor surgical procedures (14.8), and BPPV treatment (7.5). CONCLUSION: procedural skills workshops may expand PCPs' therapeutic arsenal, thus empowering PCPs and providing more comprehensive care for patients. Some manual skills, such as dry needling, soft tissue injections, and the Epley maneuver, were more likely to be used by participants than other skills, such as spirometry and soft tissue injections.

Understanding primary care providers' attitudes towards preventive screenings to patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Preventive care is important for managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), yet primary care providers (PCPs) often face challenges in delivering such care due to discomfort and unfamiliarity with IBD-specific guidelines. This study aims to assess PCPs' attitudes towards, and practices in, providing preventive screenings for IBD patients, highlighting areas for improvement in guideline dissemination and education. METHODS: Using a web-based opt-in panel of PCPs (DocStyles survey, spring 2022), we assessed PCPs' comfort level with providing/recommending screenings and the reasons PCPs felt uncomfortable (n = 1,503). Being likely to provide/recommend screenings for depression/anxiety, skin cancer, osteoporosis, and cervical cancer were compared by PCPs' comfort level and frequency of seeing patients with IBD. We estimated adjusted odd ratios (AORs) of being likely to recommend screenings and selecting responses aligned with IBD-specific guidelines by use of clinical practice methods. RESULTS: About 72% of PCPs reported being comfortable recommending screenings to patients with IBD. The top reason identified for not feeling comfortable was unfamiliarity with IBD-specific screening guidelines (55%). Being comfortable was significantly associated with being likely to provide/recommend depression/anxiety (AOR = 3.99) and skin cancer screenings (AOR = 3.19) compared to being uncomfortable or unsure. Percentages of responses aligned with IBD-specific guidelines were lower than those aligned with general population guidelines for osteoporosis (21.7% vs. 27.8%) and cervical cancer screenings (34.9% vs. 43.9%), and responses aligned with IBD-specific guidelines did not differ by comfort level for both screenings. Timely review of guidelines specific to immunosuppressed patients was associated with being likely to provide/recommend screenings and selecting responses aligned with IBD-specific guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a general comfort among PCPs in recommending preventive screenings for IBD patients, gaps in knowledge regarding IBD-specific screening guidelines persist. Enhancing awareness and understanding of these guidelines through targeted education and resource provision may bridge this gap.

A Primer for Primary Care Physicians Managing Neurogenic Bladder Patients.

Primary care plays an important role in caring for neurogenic bladder patients. Clinicians should assess neurogenic bladder patients for common urologic symptoms/signs and refer to urology if refractory or safety issues are identified.

A Provider-Facing Decision Support Tool for Prostate Cancer Screening in Primary Care: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to pilot test an electronic health record-embedded decision support tool to facilitate prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening discussions in the primary care setting. METHODS: We pilot-tested a novel decision support tool that was used by 10 primary care physicians (PCPs) for 6 months, followed by a survey. The tool comprised (1) a risk-stratified algorithm, (2) a tool for facilitating shared decision-making (Simple Schema), (3) three best practice advisories (BPAs: <45, 45-75, and >75 years), and (4) a health maintenance module for scheduling automated reminders about PSA rescreening. RESULTS: All PCPs found the tool feasible, acceptable, and clear to use. Eight out of ten PCPs reported that the tool made PSA screening conversations somewhat or much easier. Before using the tool, 70% of PCPs felt confident in their ability to discuss PSA screening with their patient, and this improved to 100% after the tool was used by PCPs for 6 months. PCPs found the BPAs for eligible (45-75 years) and older men (>75 years) more useful than the BPA for younger men (<45 years). Among the 10 PCPs, 60% found the Simple Schema to be very useful, and 50% found the health maintenance module to be extremely or very useful. Most PCPs reported the components of the tool to be at least somewhat useful, with 10% finding them to be very burdensome. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of the tool, which is notable given the marked low acceptance of existing tools. All PCPs reported that they would consider continuing to use the tool in their clinic and were likely or very likely to recommend the tool to a colleague.

Polygenic scores for longitudinal prediction of incident type 2 diabetes in an ancestrally and medically diverse primary care physician network: a patient cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The clinical utility of genetic information for type 2 diabetes (T2D) prediction with polygenic scores (PGS) in ancestrally diverse, real-world US healthcare systems is unclear, especially for those at low clinical phenotypic risk for T2D. METHODS: We tested the association of PGS with T2D incidence in patients followed within a primary care practice network over 16 years in four hypothetical scenarios that varied by clinical data availability (N = 14,712): (1) age and sex; (2) age, sex, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, and family history of T2D; (3) all variables in (2) and random glucose; and (4) all variables in (3), HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, combined in a clinical risk score (CRS). To determine whether genetic effects differed by baseline clinical risk, we tested for interaction with the CRS. RESULTS: PGS was associated with incident T2D in all models. Adjusting for age and sex only, the Hazard Ratio (HR) per PGS standard deviation (SD) was 1.76 (95% CI 1.68, 1.84) and the HR of top 5% of PGS vs interquartile range (IQR) was 2.80 (2.39, 3.28). Adjusting for the CRS, the HR per SD was 1.48 (1.40, 1.57) and HR of the top 5% of PGS vs IQR was 2.09 (1.72, 2.55). Genetic effects differed by baseline clinical risk ((PGS-CRS interaction p = 0.05; CRS below the median: HR 1.60 (1.43, 1.79); CRS above the median: HR 1.45 (1.35, 1.55)). CONCLUSIONS: Genetic information can help identify high-risk patients even among those perceived to be low risk in a clinical evaluation.

Primary Care Physicians' Experiences With and Adaptations to Time Constraints.

Importance: The primary care workforce shortage is significant and persistent, with organizational and policy leaders urgently seeking interventions to enhance retention and recruitment. Time constraints are a valuable focus for action; however, designing effective interventions requires deeper understanding of how time constraints shape employees' experiences and outcomes of work. Objective: To examine how time constraints affect primary care physicians' work experiences and careers. Design, Setting, and Participants: Between May 1, 2021, and September 31, 2022, US-based primary care physicians who trained in family or internal medicine were interviewed. Using qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews, this study examined how participants experience and adapt to time constraints during a typical clinic day, taking account of their professional and personal responsibilities. It also incorporates physicians' reflections on implications for their careers. Main Outcomes and Measures: Thematic analysis of in-depth interviews and a measure of well-being (American Medical Association Mini-Z survey). Results: Interviews with 25 primary care physicians (14 [56%] female and 11 [44%] male; median [range] age, 43 [34-63] years) practicing in 11 US states were analyzed. Two physicians owned their own practice, whereas the rest worked as employees. The participants represented a wide range of years in practice (range, 1 to ≥21), with 11 participants (44%) in their first 5 years. Physicians described that the structure of their work hours did not match the work that was expected of them. This structural mismatch between time allocation and work expectations created a constant experience of time scarcity. Physicians described having to make tradeoffs between maintaining high-quality patient care and having their work overflow into their personal lives. These experiences led to feelings of guilt, disillusionment, and dissatisfaction. To attempt to sustain long-term careers in primary care, many sought ways to see fewer patients. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that organizational leaders must align schedules with work expectations for primary care physicians to mitigate physicians' withdrawal from work as a coping mechanism. Specific strategies are needed to achieve this realignment, including incorporating more slack into schedules and establishing realistic work expectations for physicians.

Racial, ethnic, and rural disparities in distance to physicians among decedents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in Washington State.

INTRODUCTION: Distance to physicians may explain some of the disparities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (AD/ADRD) outcomes. METHODS: We generated round trip distance between residences of decedents with AD/ADRD and the nearest neurologist and primary care physician in Washington State. RESULTS: The overall mean distance to the nearest neurologist and primary care physician was 17 and 4 miles, respectively. Non-Hispanic American Indian and/or Alaska Native and Hispanic decedents would have had to travel 1.12 and 1.07 times farther, respectively, to reach the nearest neurologist compared to non-Hispanic White people. Decedents in micropolitan, small town, and rural areas would have had to travel 2.12 to 4.01 times farther to reach the nearest neurologist and 1.14 to 3.32 times farther to reach the nearest primary care physician than those in metropolitan areas. DISCUSSION: These results underscore the critical need to identify strategies to improve access to specialists and primary care physicians to improve AD/ADRD outcomes. HIGHLIGHTS: Distance to neurologists and primary care physicians among decedents with AD/ADRD American Indian and/or Alaska Native decedents lived further away from neurologists Hispanic decedents lived further away from neurologists Non-metropolitan decedents lived further away from neurologists and primary care Decrease distance to physicians to improve dementia outcomes.