Systematic review of international clinical guidelines for the promotion of physical activity for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the world's leading cause of morbidity and mortality. An active lifestyle is one of the cornerstones in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. An initial step in guiding primary prevention programs is to refer to clinical guidelines. We aimed to systematically review clinical practice guidelines on primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and their recommendations regarding physical activity. METHODS: We systematically searched Trip Medical Database, PubMed and Guidelines International Network from January 2012 up to December 2020 using the following search strings: 'cardiovascular disease', 'prevention', combined with specific cardiovascular disease risk factors. The identified records were screened for relevance and content. We methodologically assessed the selected guidelines using the AGREE II tool. Recommendations were summarized using a consensus-developed extraction form. RESULTS: After screening, 27 clinical practice guidelines were included, all of which were developed in Western countries and showed consistent rigor of development. Guidelines were consistent about the benefit of regular, moderate-intensity, aerobic physical activity. However, recommendations on strategies to achieve and sustain behavior change varied. Multicomponent interventions, comprising education, counseling and self-management support, are recommended to be delivered by various providers in primary health care or community settings. Guidelines advise to embed patient-centered care and behavioral change techniques in prevention programs. CONCLUSIONS: Current clinical practice guidelines recommend similar PA lifestyle advice and propose various delivery models to be considered in the design of such interventions. Guidelines identify a gap in evidence on the implementation of these recommendations into practice.

Which positive view of general practice do medical students and trainees have? A systematic literature review.

Background: Despite several studies focusing on the negative aspects of general medicine, the speciality seems attractive for students. Researchers from the European General Practice Research Network created a group to study job satisfaction in general practice. The aim of this eight-country European study was to determine which positive view students have about general practice.Method: Systematic review of the literature from Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane databases. Articles published between 01/01/2000 and 12/31/2018 were searched and analysed by two researchers working blind. The data on satisfaction factors were extracted from the full text article used as verbatims. Then the data were coded with a thematic analysis.Results: 24 articles out of 414 were selected. Satisfaction factors were classified: teaching of general practice, workplace and organisational freedom, quality of life, variety in practice, workload balance and income. The analysis highlighted intellectual stimulation and the relationship built with patients and other professionals.Conclusion: Literature on the appeal of general practice for students revealed many factors of job satisfaction in general practice. It is possible to create a global view of a satisfied GP on the students' opinion. Courses and clerkships in general practice with positive role models are determining factors in career choice.

Which positive factors give general practitioners job satisfaction and make general practice a rewarding career? A European multicentric qualitative research by the European general practice research network.

BACKGROUND: General Practice (GP) seems to be perceived as less attractive throughout Europe. Most of the policies on the subject focused on negative factors. An EGPRN research team from eight participating countries was created in order to clarify the positive factors involved in appeals and retention in GP throughout Europe. The objective was to explore the positive factors supporting the satisfaction of General Practitioners (GPs) in clinical practice throughout Europe. METHOD: Qualitative study, employing face-to-face interviews and focus groups using a phenomenological approach. The setting was primary care in eight European countries: France, Belgium, Germany, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Finland, Poland and Israel. A thematic qualitative analysis was performed following the process described by Braun and Clarke. Codebooks were generated in each country. After translation and back translation of these codebooks, the team clarified and compared the codes and constructed one international codebook used for further coding. RESULTS: A purposive sample of 183 GPs, providing primary care to patients in their daily clinical practice, was interviewed across eight countries. The international codebook included 31 interpretative codes and six themes. Five positive themes were common among all the countries involved across Europe: the GP as a person, special skills needed in practice, doctor-patient relationship, freedom in the practice and supportive factors for work-life balance. One theme was not found in Poland or Slovenia: teaching and learning. CONCLUSION: This study identified positive factors which give GPs job satisfaction in their clinical practice. This description focused on the human needs of a GP. They need to have freedom to choose their working environment and to organize their practice to suit themselves. In addition, they need to have access to professional education so they can develop specific skills for General Practice, and also strengthen doctor-patient relationships. Stakeholders should consider these factors when seeking to increase the GP workforce.

Efficacy of communication skills training on colorectal cancer screening by GPs: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) mass screening has been implemented in France since 2008. Participation rates remain too low. The objective of this study was to test if the implementation of a training course focused on communication skills among general practitioners (GP) would increase the delivery of gaiac faecal occult blood test and CRC screening participation among the target population of each participating GP. A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted with GP's practice as a cluster unit. GPs from practices in the control group were asked to continue their usual care. GPs of the intervention group received a 4-h educational training, built with previous qualitative data on CRC screening focusing on doctor-patient communication with a follow-up of 7 months for both groups. The primary outcome measure was the patients' participation rate in the target population for each GP. Seventeen GPs (16 practices) in intervention group and 28 GPs (19 practices) in control group participated. The patients' participation rate in the intervention group were 36.7% vs. 24.5% in the control group (P = 0.03). Doctor-patient communication should be developed and appear to be one of the possible targets of improvement patients adherence and participation rate in the target population for CRC mass screening.

Which positive factors determine the GP satisfaction in clinical practice? A systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Looking at what makes General Practitioners (GPs) happy in their profession, may be important in increasing the GP workforce in the future. The European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN) created a research team (eight national groups) in order to clarify the factors involved in GP job satisfaction throughout Europe. The first step of this study was a literature review to explore how the satisfaction of GPs had been studied before. The research question was "Which factors are related to GP satisfaction in Clinical Practice?" METHODS: Systematic literature review according to the PRISMA statement. The databases searched were Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane. All articles were identified, screened and included by two separate research teams, according to inclusion or exclusion criteria. Then, a qualitative appraisal was undertaken. Next, a thematic analysis process was undertaken to capture any issue relevant to the research question. RESULTS: The number of records screened was 458. One hundred four were eligible. Finally, 17 articles were included. The data revealed 13 subthemes, which were grouped into three major themes for GP satisfaction. First there were general profession-related themes, applicable to many professions. A second group of issues related specifically to a GP setting. Finally, a third group was related to professional life and personal issues. CONCLUSIONS: A number of factors leading to GP job satisfaction, exist in literature They should be used by policy makers within Europe to increase the GP workforce. The research team needs to undertake qualitative studies to confirm or enhance those results.

A review of guidelines for collaboration in substance misuse management.

BACKGROUND: Substance misuse among the working population results in increasing economic costs. General practitioners (GPs) and occupational physicians (OPs) can play a central role in detecting and managing substance misuse in the working population. Their collaboration could be critical in coordinating care, in facilitating rehabilitation and in reducing sickness absence. AIMS: To search guidelines for evidence on collaboration between GPs and OPs in substance misuse detection and management in the working population. METHODS: International guidelines regarding collaborative care for alcohol, illicit drug, hypnotic and tranquillizer misuse were identified by a systematic search in the Guidelines International Network and US National Guidelines Clearinghouse databases. RESULTS: In total, 20 guidelines were considered of sufficient methodological quality, based on the criteria of the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Education II instrument. Only two guidelines reported on the OP's role in screening and intervention for alcohol misuse. CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of guidance on the OP's role and on collaboration between GPs and OPs in this field. Further study is required on their respective roles in substance misuse management, the effectiveness of workplace interventions and the benefits of collaboration.

Acid-base disturbances in dehydrated patients with cystic fibrosis : four case reports with review of literature.

Most episodes of vomiting, reduced intake and diarrhoea in children can be evaluated and treated without additional tests. However, when the degree of clinical dehydration is not in line with the patient's medical history, other diagnoses should be suspected. In the presence of a hyponatraemic hypochloraemic metabolic alkalosis, cystic fibrosis (CF) should be included in the differential diagnosis, especially if there is failure to thrive even in the absence of respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, young patients diagnosed with CF have a higher risk for an acute electrolyte decompensation caused by increased salt and fluid losses. We present 4 paediatric cases to raise the awareness of electrolyte disturbances in CF patients.

Contraceptive knowledge and expectations by adolescents: an explanation by focus groups.

To determine the needs and expectations of adolescent girls concerning contraceptive use as well as their attitude to health care providers, a qualitative research was performed with four focus groups of 17-year-old girls of different education levels. All 26 girls except one were of Belgian origin. There was a fixed scenario for each group. The discussions were tape-recorded, transcribed and analysed via content analysis. Knowledge concerning the daily use and side-effects of contraceptives was insufficient. A school physician is not the person they want to talk to. The influence of the peer in the group is very important. The general practitioner is the most frequently consulted health care provider for the first pill prescription, but for a gynaecological examination they thought they had to visit a gynaecologist. The girls expected confidentiality from their general practitioner and wanted sufficient consultation time. Factors inhibiting the visits for obtaining contraceptives were the cost, waiting time and fear of the gynaecological examination. Adolescents intended to visit their general practitioner for contraceptives, but the family practice had to be easily accessible. It is a challenge for general practitioners to provide good contraceptives to adolescents and to promote compliance.

Structured reporting: if, why, when, how-and at what expense? Results of a focus group meeting of radiology professionals from eight countries.

PURPOSE: To determine why, despite growing evidence that radiologists and referring physicians prefer structured reporting (SR) to free text (FT) reporting, SR has not been widely adopted in most radiology departments. METHODS: A focus group was formed consisting of 11 radiology professionals from eight countries. Eight topics were submitted for discussion. The meeting was videotaped, transcribed, and analyzed according to the principles of qualitative healthcare research. RESULTS: Perceived advantages of SR were facilitation of research, easy comparison, discouragement of ambiguous reports, embedded links to images, highlighting important findings, not having to dictate text nobody will read, and automatic translation of teleradiology reports. Being compelled to report within a rigid frame was judged unacceptable. Personal convictions appeared to have high emotional value. It was felt that other healthcare stakeholders would impose SR without regard to what radiologists thought of it. If the industry were to provide ready-made templates for selected examinations, most radiologists would use them. CONCLUSION: If radiologists can be convinced of the advantages of SR and the risks associated with failing to participate actively in its implementation, they will take a positive stand. The industry should propose technology allowing SR without compromising accuracy, completeness, workflows, and cost-benefit balance. MAIN MESSAGES: Structured reporting offers radiologists opportunities to improve their service to other stakeholders. • If radiologists can be convinced of the advantages of structured reporting, they may become early adopters. • The healthcare industry should propose technology allowing structured reporting. • Structured reporting will fail if it compromises accuracy, completeness, workflows or cost-benefit balance.

Discussing STIs: doctors are from Mars, patients from Venus.

BACKGROUND: Primary care plays an important role in promoting sexual health, but in this setting counselling regarding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is rarely performed and often inadequate. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to identify and quantify the barriers physicians encounter in discussing STIs with their patients. METHODS: A postal questionnaire-based survey was carried out in a random sample of 200 primary care physicians in Antwerp, Belgium. RESULTS: The response rate was 68%. Among the 122 respondents, only 44.3% provide some form of counselling (asking about sexual history, informing about safe sex or informing about STIs) regularly, at least once a week. Major barriers are language and comprehension problems (for 74.2% of respondents), ethnic differences (68.4%), insufficient training (69.4%), lack of time (60.8%), presence of the patient's partner (89.2%) or mother (94.2%), first contact with a patient (60.8%), fear of embarrassing the patient (30.6%) and a patient without genital complaints (71.4%). About half of the GPs fail to counsel an asymptomatic patient with obvious STI risk, and as many give no safe sex advice in a first contraception consultation. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians have many and various barriers to discussing STIs with their patients. Features of contemporary STI counselling and solutions to its problems are discussed. Education of health care providers should be given priority.