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1.
Rev Med Suisse ; 20(877): 1126-1131, 2024 Jun 05.
Article Fr | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38836396

Physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) is an independent medical specialty, little known in Switzerland. This specialty, strongly linked to the holistic approach of the International Classification of Functioning, will be increasingly solicited by the epidemiology of disability and the imperatives of "ageing better". Its skills in prescribing human and material resources for rehabilitation provide added value in terms of loss of autonomy. Based on a biopsychosocial model, PRM has a high role to play in prevention and primary healthcare, as well as in the management and prevention of the consequences of functionally limiting diseases. There are, however, financial (pricing) and demographic (lack of representation) obstacles to effective action on behalf of the population and the healthcare system.


La médecine physique et de réadaptation (MPR), discipline indépendante, est peu connue en Suisse. Cette spécialité, liée à l'approche holistique de la classification internationale du fonctionnement, sera de plus en plus sollicitée par l'épidémiologie du handicap et les impératifs du « vieillir mieux ¼. Ses compétences de prescription des moyens humains et matériels en réadaptation apportent une plus-value sur la perte d'autonomie. Basée sur un modèle biopsychosocial, la MPR trouve sa place dans la prévention et les soins de santé primaires ainsi que dans la prise en charge et la prévention des conséquences des maladies induisant une limitation fonctionnelle. Il existe toutefois des obstacles financiers (tarification) et démographiques (insuffisance de représentation) pour une action efficace au service de la population et du système de santé.


Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine , Primary Health Care , Humans , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Switzerland , Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine/methods , Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine/trends , Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine/organization & administration , Rehabilitation/methods , Rehabilitation/organization & administration , Rehabilitation/trends
2.
Front Public Health ; 12: 1389057, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38846606

Vertical integration models aim for the integration of services from different levels of care (e.g., primary, and secondary care) with the objective of increasing coordination and continuity of care as well as improving efficiency, quality, and access outcomes. This paper provides a view of the Portuguese National Health Service (NHS) healthcare providers' vertical integration, operationalized by the Portuguese NHS Executive Board during 2023 and 2024. This paper also aims to contribute to the discussion regarding the opportunities and constraints posed by public healthcare organizations vertical integration reforms. The Portuguese NHS operationalized the development and generalization of Local Health Units management model throughout the country. The same institutions are now responsible for both the primary care and the hospital care provided by public services in each geographic area, in an integrated manner. This 2024 reform also changed the NHS organic and organizational structures, opening paths to streamline the continuum of care. However, it will be important to ensure adequate monitoring and support, with the participation of healthcare services as well as community structures and other stakeholders, to promote an effective integration of care.


Delivery of Health Care, Integrated , Health Care Reform , National Health Programs , Portugal , Humans , National Health Programs/organization & administration , Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/organization & administration , State Medicine/organization & administration , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Continuity of Patient Care
3.
Rural Remote Health ; 24(2): 8641, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38832438

INTRODUCTION: Despite universal health coverage and high life expectancy, Japan faces challenges in health care that include providing care for the world's oldest population, increasing healthcare costs, physician maldistribution and an entrenched medical workforce and training system. Primary health care has typically been practised by specialists in other fields, and general medicine has only been certified as an accredited specialty since 2018. There are continued challenges to develop an awareness and acceptance of the primary health medical workforce in Japan. The impact of these challenges is highest in rural and island areas of Japan, with nearly 50% of rural and remote populations considered 'elderly'. Concurrently, these areas are experiencing physician shortages as medical graduates gravitate to urban areas and choose medical specialties more commonly practised in cities. This study aimed to understand the views on the role of rural generalist medicine (RGM) in contributing to solutions for rural and island health care in Japan. METHODS: This was a descriptive qualitative study. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 16 participants, including Rural Generalist Program Japan (RGPJ) registrars and supervisors, the RGPJ director, government officials, rural health experts and academics. Interviews were of 35-50 minutes duration and conducted between May and July 2019. Some interviews were conducted in person at the WONCA Asia-Pacific Conference in Kyoto, some onsite in hospital settings and some were videoconferenced. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. All transcripts were analysed through an inductive thematic process based on the grouping of codes. RESULTS: From the interview analysis, six main themes were identified: (1) key issues facing rural and island health in Japan; (2) participant background; (3) local demography and population; (4) identity, perception and role of RGM; (5) RGPJ experience; and (6) suggested reforms and recommendations. DISCUSSION: The RGPJ was generally considered to be a positive step toward reshaping the medical workforce to address the geographic inequities in Japan. While improvements to the program were suggested by participants, it was also generally agreed that a more systematic, national approach to RGM was needed in Japan. Key findings from this study are relevant to this goal. This includes considering the drivers to participating in the RGPJ for future recruitment strategies and the need for an idiosyncratic Japanese model of RGM, with agreed advanced skills and supervision models. Also important are the issues raised by participants on the need to improve community acceptance and branding of rural generalist doctors to support primary care in rural and island areas. CONCLUSION: The RGPJ represents an effort to bolster the national rural medical workforce in Japan. Discussions from participants in this study indicate strong support to continue research, exploration and expansion of a national RGM model that is contextualised for Japanese conditions and that is branded and promoted to build community support for the role of the rural generalist.


Rural Health Services , Humans , Japan , Rural Health Services/organization & administration , Qualitative Research , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Rural Population/statistics & numerical data , Interviews as Topic , Female , General Practice/organization & administration , Islands , Male
5.
BMC Prim Care ; 25(1): 195, 2024 Jun 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38824504

BACKGROUND: Inadequate financing constrains primary healthcare (PHC) capacity in many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in rural areas. This study evaluates an innovative PHC financing reform in rural China that aimed to improve access to healthcare services through supply-side integration and the establishment of a designated PHC fund. METHODS: We employed a quasi-experimental synthetic difference-in-differences (SDID) approach to analyze county-level panel data from Chongqing Province, China, spanning from 2009 to 2018. The study compared the impact of the reform on PHC access and per capita health expenditures in Pengshui County with 37 other control counties (districts). We assessed the reform's impact on two key outcomes: the share of outpatient visits at PHC facilities and per capita total PHC expenditure. RESULTS: The reform led to a significant increase in the share of outpatient visits at PHC facilities (14.92% points; 95% CI: 6.59-23.24) and an increase in per capita total PHC expenditure (87.30 CNY; 95% CI: 3.71-170.88) in Pengshui County compared to the synthetic control. These effects were robust across alternative model specifications and increased in magnitude over time, highlighting the effectiveness of the integrated financing model in enhancing PHC capacity and access in rural China. CONCLUSIONS: This research presents compelling evidence demonstrating that horizontal integration in PHC financing significantly improved utilization and resource allocation in rural primary care settings in China. This reform serves as a pivotal model for resource-limited environments, demonstrating how supply-side financing integration can bolster PHC and facilitate progress toward universal health coverage. The findings underscore the importance of sustainable financing mechanisms and the need for policy commitment to achieve equitable healthcare access.


Health Care Reform , Health Services Accessibility , Primary Health Care , China , Primary Health Care/economics , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Health Services Accessibility/economics , Humans , Health Care Reform/economics , Health Expenditures , Rural Health Services/economics , Rural Population , Healthcare Financing
6.
Glob Health Action ; 17(1): 2346203, 2024 Dec 31.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38826145

BACKGROUND: Primary health care plays an important role in providing populations with access to health care. However, it is currently facing unprecedented workforce shortages and high turnover worldwide. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationship between organizational culture and turnover intention among primary care providers in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was administered in four large cities in China, Tianjin, Jinan, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, comprising 38 community health centers and 399 primary care providers. Organizational culture was measured using the Competing Value Framework model, which is divided into four culture types: group, development, hierarchy, and rational culture. Turnover intention was measured using one item assessing participants' intention to leave their current position in the following year. We compared the turnover intention among different organizational culture types using a Chi-square test, while the hierarchical logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between organizational culture and turnover intention. RESULTS: The study found that 32% of primary care providers indicated an intention to leave. Primary care providers working in a hierarchical culture reported higher turnover intention (43.18%) compared with those in other cultures (p < 0.05). Hierarchical culture was a predictor of turnover intention (OR = 3.453, p < 0.001), whereas rational culture had a negative effect on turnover intention (OR = 0.319, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings inform organizational management strategies to retain a healthy workforce in primary health care.


Main findings: This study found that primary care physicians and nurses working in a hierarchical culture are more likely to report the intention to leave compared to other culture types, while those working in a rational culture are significantly less likely to report the intention to leave.Added knowledge: The dominant organizational culture identified in community health centers across eastern China is group culture, and organizational culture is a significant predictor of the turnover intention of primary care providers.Global health impact for policy and action: Future primary care reform should focus on managerial interventions in their efforts to retain health workers and, in particular, develop and implement strategies to cultivate and moderate rational culture.


Intention , Organizational Culture , Personnel Turnover , Primary Health Care , Humans , Personnel Turnover/statistics & numerical data , China , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Male , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Adult , Middle Aged , Cities , Health Personnel/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Job Satisfaction , Attitude of Health Personnel
7.
BMC Health Serv Res ; 24(1): 607, 2024 May 09.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38724975

BACKGROUND: Primary health care has a central role in dementia detection, diagnosis, and management, especially in low-resource rural areas. Care navigation is a strategy to improve integration and access to care, but little is known about how navigators can collaborate with rural primary care teams to support dementia care. In Saskatchewan, Canada, the RaDAR (Rural Dementia Action Research) team partnered with rural primary health care teams to implement interprofessional memory clinics that included an Alzheimer Society First Link Coordinator (FLC) in a navigator role. Study objectives were to examine FLC and clinic team member perspectives of the impact of FLC involvement, and analysis of Alzheimer Society data comparing outcomes associated with three types of navigator-client contacts. METHODS: This study used a mixed-method design. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with FLC (n = 3) and clinic team members (n = 6) involved in five clinics. Data were analyzed using thematic inductive analysis. A longitudinal retrospective analysis was conducted with previously collected Alzheimer Society First Link database records. Memory clinic clients were compared to self- and direct-referred clients in the geographic area of the clinics on time to first contact, duration, and number of contacts. RESULTS: Three key themes were identified in both FLC and team interviews: perceived benefits to patients and families of FLC involvement, benefits to memory clinic team members, and impact of rural location. Whereas other team members assessed the patient, only FLC focused on caregivers, providing emotional and psychological support, connection to services, and symptom management. Face-to-face contact helped FLC establish a relationship with caregivers that facilitated future contacts. Team members were relieved knowing caregiver needs were addressed and learned about dementia subtypes and available services they could recommend to non-clinic clients with dementia. Although challenges of rural location included fewer available services and travel challenges in winter, the FLC role was even more important because it may be the only support available. CONCLUSIONS: FLC and team members identified perceived benefits of an embedded FLC for patients, caregivers, and themselves, many of which were linked to the FLC being in person.


Primary Health Care , Rural Health Services , Humans , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Saskatchewan , Rural Health Services/organization & administration , Female , Male , Alzheimer Disease/therapy , Alzheimer Disease/psychology , Retrospective Studies , Patient Navigation/organization & administration , Qualitative Research , Interviews as Topic , Aged , Patient Care Team/organization & administration
8.
BMC Prim Care ; 25(1): 160, 2024 May 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38730345

BACKGROUND: The advanced access (AA) model is among the most recommended innovations for improving timely access in primary care (PC). AA is based on core pillars such as comprehensive planning for care needs and supply, regularly adjusting supply to demand, optimizing appointment systems, and interprofessional collaborative practices. Exposure of family medicine residents to AA within university-affiliated family medicine groups (U-FMGs) is a promising strategy to widen its dissemination and improve access. Using four AA pillars as a conceptual model, this study aimed to determine the theoretical compatibility of Quebec's university-affiliated clinics' residency programs with the key principles of AA. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was sent to the chief resident and academic director at each participating clinic. An overall response rate of 96% (44/46 U-FMGs) was obtained. RESULTS: No local residency program was deemed compatible with all four considered pillars. On planning for needs and supply, only one quarter of the programs were compatible with the principles of AA, owing to residents in out-of-clinic rotations often being unavailable for extended periods. On regularly adjusting supply to demand, 54% of the programs were compatible. Most (82%) programs' appointment systems were not very compatible with the AA principles, mostly because the proportion of the schedule reserved for urgent appointments was insufficient. Interprofessional collaboration opportunities in the first year of residency allowed 60% of the programs to be compatible with this pillar. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the heterogeneity among local residency programs with respect to their theoretical compatibility with the key principles of AA. Future research to empirically test the hypotheses raised by this study is warranted.


Health Services Accessibility , Internship and Residency , Quebec , Internship and Residency/organization & administration , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Health Services Accessibility/organization & administration , Family Practice/education , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Surveys and Questionnaires
9.
BMC Prim Care ; 25(1): 162, 2024 May 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38730368

BACKGROUND: Interprofessional primary care teams (IPCTs) work together to enhance care. Despite evidence on the benefits of IPCTs, implementation remains challenging. This research aims to 1) identify and prioritize barriers and enablers, and 2) co-develop team-level strategies to support IPCT implementation in Nova Scotia, Canada. METHODS: Healthcare providers and staff of IPCTs were invited to complete an online survey to identify barriers and enablers, and the degree to which each item impacted the functioning of their team. Top ranked items were identified using the sum of frequency x impact for each response. A virtual knowledge sharing event was held to identify strategies to address local barriers and enablers that impact team functioning. RESULTS: IPCT members (n = 117), with a mix of clinic roles and experience, completed the survey. The top three enablers identified were access to technological tools to support their role, standardized processes for using the technological tools, and having a team manager to coordinate collaboration. The top three barriers were limited opportunity for daily team communication, lack of conflict resolution strategies, and lack of capacity building opportunities. IPCT members, administrators, and patients attended the knowledge sharing event (n = 33). Five strategies were identified including: 1) balancing patient needs and provider scope of practice, 2) holding regular and accessible meetings, 3) supporting team development opportunities, 4) supporting professional development, and 5) supporting involvement in non-clinical activities. INTERPRETATION: This research contextualized evidence to further understand local perspectives and experiences of barriers and enablers to the implementation of IPCTs. The knowledge exchange event identified actionable strategies that IPCTs and healthcare administrators can tailor to support teams and care for patients.


Interprofessional Relations , Patient Care Team , Primary Health Care , Nova Scotia , Humans , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Patient Care Team/organization & administration , Surveys and Questionnaires , Cooperative Behavior , Male , Female , Information Dissemination/methods , Adult , Health Personnel
10.
BMC Health Serv Res ; 24(1): 590, 2024 May 07.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38715045

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented transition from in-person to virtual delivery of primary health care services. Leaders were at the helm of the rapid changes required to make this happen, yet outcomes of leaders' behaviours were largely unexplored. This study (1) develops and validates the Crisis Leadership and Staff Outcomes (CLSO) Survey and (2) investigates the leadership behaviours exhibited during the transition to virtual care and their influence on select staff outcomes in primary care. METHODS: We tested the CLSO Survey amongst leaders and staff from four Community Health Centres in Ontario, Canada. The CLSO Survey measures a range of crisis leadership behaviors, such as showing empathy and promoting learning and psychological safety, as well as perceived staff outcomes in four areas: innovation, teamwork, feedback, and commitment to change. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis to investigate factor structure and construct validity. We report on the scale's internal consistency through Cronbach's alpha, and associations between leadership scales and staff outcomes through odds ratios. RESULTS: There were 78 staff and 21 middle and senior leaders who completed the survey. A 4-factor model emerged, comprised of the leadership behaviors of (1) "task-oriented leadership" and (2) "person-oriented leadership", and select staff outcomes of (3) "commitment to sustaining change" and (4) "performance self-evaluation". Scales exhibited strong construct and internal validity. Task- and person-oriented leadership behaviours positively related to the two staff outcomes. CONCLUSION: The CLSO Survey is a reliable measure of leadership behaviours and select staff outcomes. Our results suggest that crisis leadership is multifaceted and both person-oriented and task-oriented leadership behaviours are critical during a crisis to improve perceived staff performance and commitment to change.


COVID-19 , Leadership , Primary Health Care , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Ontario , Female , Male , Adult , Surveys and Questionnaires , SARS-CoV-2 , Pandemics , Middle Aged , Health Personnel/psychology
11.
Prim Care ; 51(2): 299-310, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38692776

Sleep significantly impacts health. Insomnia, characterized by difficulty with sleep onset, maintenance, and subsequent daytime symptoms, is increasingly prevalent and increases the risk of other medical comorbidities. The pathophysiology involves hyperarousal during non-REM sleep and altered sleep homeostasis. The 3P model explains the development and persistence of insomnia. Assessment is primarily clinical and based on appropriate history while distinguishing from other sleep disorders. "Somnomics" suggests a personalized approach to management. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is the first-line treatment in addition to other nonpharmacological strategies. Medications are a secondary option with weak supporting evidence.


Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Humans , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/diagnosis , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/physiopathology , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Hypnotics and Sedatives/therapeutic use
14.
Rev Saude Publica ; 58: 14, 2024.
Article En, Pt | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38695443

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate and compare the protagonism of Oral Health teams (OHt) in the teamwork process in Primary Healthcare (PHC) over five years and estimate the magnitude of disparities between Brazilian macro-regions. METHODS: Ecological study that used secondary data extracted from the Sistema de Informação em Saúde para a Atenção Básica (SISAB - Health Information System for Primary Healthcare) from 2018 to 2022. Indicators were selected from a previously validated evaluative matrix, calculated from records in the Collective Activity Form on the degree of OHt's protagonism in team meetings and its degree of organization concerning the meeting agendas. A descriptive and amplitude analysis of the indicators' variation over time was carried out, and the disparity index was also calculated to estimate and compare the magnitude of differences between macro-regions in 2022. RESULTS: In Brazil, between 3.06% and 4.04% of team meetings were led by OHt professionals. The Northeast and South regions had the highest (3.71% to 4.88%) and lowest proportions (1.21% to 2.48%), respectively. From 2018 to 2022, there was a reduction in the indicator of the "degree of protagonism of the OHt" in Brazil and macro-regions. The most frequent topics in meetings under OHt's responsibility were the work process (54.71% to 70.64%) and diagnosis and monitoring of the territory (33.49% to 54.48%). The most significant disparities between regions were observed for the indicator "degree of organization of the OHt concerning case discussion and singular therapeutic projects". CONCLUSIONS: The protagonism of the OHt in the teamwork process in PHC is incipient and presents regional disparities, which challenges managers and OHt to break isolation and lack of integration, aiming to offer comprehensive and quality healthcare to the user of the Unified Health System (SUS).


Oral Health , Patient Care Team , Primary Health Care , Humans , Primary Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Brazil , Oral Health/statistics & numerical data , Healthcare Disparities/statistics & numerical data
15.
J Prev Med Hyg ; 65(1): E50-E58, 2024 Mar.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38706764

Introduction: The Health District (HD) is a critical component of Italy's National Health Service, responsible for ensuring Primary Health Care (PHC) services in response to community health needs. The Italian government established a national strategic reform program, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), starting in 2022, with a series of health interventions to reorganize the PHC setting, the main reform being the Ministerial Decree 77/2022 (DM77). Our study aimed to provide a description of socio-demographic data and to assess the correlation between HDs, in order to suggest health intervention priorities in PHC reforms. Materials and methods: We conducted our analysis using a cross-sectional record linkage of data from multiple sources to compare organizational and socio-demographic variables. A dataset was created with each of the 21 Italian Regions' HDs data of population, land area, mean age, ageing index, old-age dependency ratio, birth rate and death rate. The Inland Areas Project data was integrated for a socio-economic perspective. Results: Our study identified comparable groups of HDs, considering demographical, socio-economic and geographical aspects. The study provides a baseline understanding of the Italian situation prior to the implementation of DM77. It also highlights that inhabitants number cannot be the only variable to take into account for the definition of Italian HDs organisation and PHC reform, providing intercorrelated variables that take into account geographic location, demographic data, and socio-economic aspects. Conclusion: By acknowledging the interplay of demographic, socio-economic, and geographic factors, policymakers can tailor interventions to address diverse community needs, ensuring a more effective and equitable PHC system.


Health Policy , Primary Health Care , Italy , Humans , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Cross-Sectional Studies , Socioeconomic Factors , Health Care Reform , Aged , Demography
17.
Cien Saude Colet ; 29(5): e11232023, 2024 May.
Article Pt | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38747773

We analyzed the association between the recognition of a usual source of care (USC) of Primary Health Care (PHC) and access to services among Brazilian adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study using data from the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey with 68,968 Brazilian adolescents and cluster sampling. Descriptive analyses were carried out with Pearson's χ2 and prevalence ratios (PR) using logistic regression models between access and recognition of USC. It was observed that 74.6% reported access, and this was higher among females (79.3%). In the multivariate analysis, there was a positive association (PR: 1.25; 95%CI: 1.24-1.26); and, when stratified by sex, positive associations for both sexes, (PR: 1.30; 95%CI: 1.28-1.31) male and (PR: 1.21; 95%CI: 1.20-1.23) female. The majority of Brazilian adolescents demonstrated PHC as a USC and were able to access services, but lack of access was more frequent among the most economically vulnerable and those with risk behaviors, indicating potentially avoidable inequities with more equitable and longitudinal PHC services.


Objetivou-se analisar a associação entre o reconhecimento de uma fonte usual do cuidado de Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) e o acesso aos serviços de APS, entre adolescentes brasileiros. Estudo transversal, a partir da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar realizada com 68.968 adolescentes brasileiros, através de amostragem por conglomerados. Foram realizadas análises descritivas através do χ2 de Pearson e a razão de prevalência (RP) através dos modelos de regressão logística entre acesso aos serviços de APS e o reconhecimento da FUC APS. Dos adolescentes que procuraram os serviços de APS, 74,6% referiram acesso, sendo a maior do sexo feminino (79,3%). Na análise multivariada, observa-se associação positiva (RP: 1,25; IC95%: 1,24-1,26), e na estratificado por sexo, observou-se associações positivas para ambos os sexos, (RP: 1,30; IC95%: 1,28-1,31) masculino e (RP: 1,21; IC95%: 1,20-1,23) feminino. Verifica-se que a maioria dos adolescentes brasileiros que têm a APS como sua FUC conseguiram acessar os serviços de APS, apesar de que, a falta de acesso foram mais frequentes entre os mais vulneráveis economicamente e devido a comportamentos de risco, indicando iniquidades potencialmente evitáveis por meio de uma APS mais efetiva e longitudinal.


Health Services Accessibility , Primary Health Care , Humans , Adolescent , Primary Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Brazil , Female , Male , Cross-Sectional Studies , Health Services Accessibility/statistics & numerical data , Health Surveys , Sex Factors , Logistic Models , Child , Risk-Taking , Multivariate Analysis , Adolescent Health Services/statistics & numerical data
18.
J Am Board Fam Med ; 37(2): 295-302, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38740468

INTRODUCTION: Providing abortion in primary care expands access and alleviates delays. The 2020 COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) led to the expansion of telehealth, including medication abortion (MAB). This study evaluates the accessibility of novel telehealth MAB (teleMAB) initiated during the PHE, with the lifting of mifepristone restrictions, compared with traditional in-clinic MAB offered before the PHE at a Massachusetts safety-net primary care organization. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective electronic medical record review of 267 MABs. We describe sociodemographic, care access, and complete abortion characteristics and compare differences between teleMAB and in-clinic MABs using Chi-squared test, fisher's exact test, independent t test, and Wilcoxon rank sum. We conducted logistic regression to examine differences in time to care (6 days or less vs 7 days or more). RESULTS: 184 MABs were eligible for analysis (137 in-clinic, 47 teleMAB). Patients were not significantly more likely to receive teleMAB versus in-clinic MAB based on race, ethnicity, language, or payment. Completed abortion did not significantly differ between groups (P = .187). Patients received care more quickly when accessing teleMAB compared with usual in-clinic MAB (median 3 days, range 0 to 20 vs median 6 days, range 0 to 32; P < . 001). TeleMAB patients had 2.29 times the odds of having their abortion appointment within 6 days compared with in-clinic (95% CI: 1.13, 4.86). CONCLUSION: TeleMAB in primary care is as effective, timelier, and potentially more accessible than in-clinic MAB when in-person mifepristone regulations were enforced. TeleMAB is feasible and can promote patient-centered and timely access to abortion care.


Abortion, Induced , COVID-19 , Health Services Accessibility , Primary Health Care , Telemedicine , Humans , Female , Telemedicine/statistics & numerical data , Telemedicine/organization & administration , Telemedicine/methods , Abortion, Induced/methods , Abortion, Induced/statistics & numerical data , Retrospective Studies , Adult , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Primary Health Care/methods , Pregnancy , Massachusetts , Health Services Accessibility/statistics & numerical data , SARS-CoV-2 , Young Adult , Mifepristone/administration & dosage , Mifepristone/therapeutic use , Abortifacient Agents/administration & dosage
19.
J Am Board Fam Med ; 37(2): 161-164, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38740469

This issue highlights changes in medical care delivery since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and features research to advance the delivery of primary care. Several articles report on the effectiveness of telehealth, including its use for hospital follow-up, medication abortion, management of diabetes, and as a potential tool for reducing health disparities. Other articles detail innovations in clinical practice, from the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to a validated simple risk score that can support outpatient triage decisions for patients with COVID-19. Notably one article reports the impact of a voluntary program using scribes in a large health system on physician documentation behaviors and performance. One article addresses the wage gap between early-career female and male family physicians. Several articles report on inappropriate testing for common health problems; are you following recommendations for ordering Pulmonary Function Tests, mt-sDNA for colon cancer screening, and HIV testing?


Artificial Intelligence , Big Data , COVID-19 , Family Practice , Telemedicine , Humans , Family Practice/methods , Family Practice/organization & administration , COVID-19/epidemiology , Telemedicine/organization & administration , Telemedicine/methods , SARS-CoV-2 , Quality Improvement , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Primary Health Care/methods , Pandemics
20.
J Am Board Fam Med ; 37(2): 172-179, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38740484

BACKGROUND: Optimal care for persons with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) requires primary and specialty care continuity, access to multiple providers, social risk assessment, and self-management support. The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly changed primary care delivery to increase reliance on telehealth and virtual care. We report on the experiences of individuals with MCC and their family caregivers on managing their health and receiving health care during the initial pandemic. METHODS: Semistructured qualitative interviews with 30 patients (19 English speaking, 11 Spanish speaking) plus 9 accompanying care partners, who had 2+ primary care encounters between March 1, 2020, and November 30, 2020, 2+ chronic conditions, and 1 or more self-reported social risks. Questions focused on access to and experiences with care, roles for care partners, and self-management during the first 6 months of the pandemic. RESULTS: Participants experienced substantial changes in care delivery. The most commonly reported changes were a shift to more virtual relative to in-person care and shifting roles for care partners. Changes fostered new perspectives on self-management and an appreciation of personal resilience and self-reliance. Virtual care was an acceptable complement to in-person care, though not a substitute for periodic in-person visits. It was more acceptable for English speakers and with a usual provider. CONCLUSION: New models of care delivery that recognize patient and family resilience and resourcefulness, emphasize provider continuity, and combine virtual and in-person care may support self-management for individuals with MCC and social needs.


COVID-19 , Multiple Chronic Conditions , Primary Health Care , Telemedicine , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , Female , Male , Middle Aged , Aged , Multiple Chronic Conditions/therapy , Multiple Chronic Conditions/epidemiology , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Telemedicine/organization & administration , Qualitative Research , SARS-CoV-2 , Self-Management/methods , Caregivers/psychology , Adult , Pandemics , Interviews as Topic
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