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.

[Acupuncture and chronic pain†: practical considerations for primary care physicians]. / Acupuncture et douleur chronique†: guide pratique à l'usage des médecins généralistes.

Different international clinical guidelines from expert committees recommend acupuncture on equal terms with conventional pharmacological or interventional techniques for the management of chronic pain. Thus, this traditional Chinese medicine technique has won its place in a primary care chronic pain management plan. It should not be reserved as a last resort, when all other techniques have failed. Inspired by the concept of integrative medicine, this article proposes an overview of currently validated indications, and offers some tools for the primary care physician who wishes to orient a patient towards an acupuncture treatment.

Des récentes recommandations cliniques internationales de différents comités d'experts incluent l'acupuncture au même titre que les traitements médicamenteux ou interventionnels pour le traitement de douleurs chroniques. Dès lors, cette technique de médecine traditionnelle chinoise trouve sa place dans un plan de traitement antalgique en médecine générale, et ne devrait pas être réservée au dernier recours suite à l'échec de toutes les autres modalités. Dans l'esprit d'une antalgie intégrative, cet article propose un aperçu d'indications actuellement validées, ainsi que quelques clefs pour le médecin de premier recours qui souhaite orienter son patient vers un traitement d'acupuncture.

[Transition from postgraduate training to independent practice : can we do better ?] / Transition entre la formation postgraduée et l'installation en cabinet : peut-on faire mieux ?

Transition from postgraduate training to independent practice in primary care can be experienced as very stressful. This may be partly explained by the fact that in Switzerland, only six months training in ambulatory medicine are required as part of a five year training for the title of primary care physician. This seems largely insufficient given the diversity of tasks and skills to master. This article aims to make junior doctors aware of the medical and non medical skills they should acquire before entering in primary care independent practice (practice management, insurance, medico-legal issues). The authors formulate a step by step approach based on their experience as those of other colleagues in order to facilitate such transition.

La transition entre la formation postgraduée et l'installation en cabinet peut être vécue comme très stressante. Cela est d'autant plus le cas que pour obtenir le titre de spécialiste ISFM (Institut suisse pour la formation médicale postgraduée et continue) en médecine interne générale, seuls six mois de formation en médecine ambulatoire sont requis. Cela paraît largement insuffisant en raison de la diversité des tâches à accomplir et des compétences à maîtriser. Cet article a pour but de rendre attentif les médecins en formation aux compétences particulièrement utiles à acquérir dans le domaine tant médical que non médical (gestion d'entreprise, aspects assécurologiques et médico-légaux). Sur la base de leur expérience et de celles de collègues récemment installés, les auteurs proposent une approche par étape pour faciliter la transition entre formation et installation en médecine interne générale ambulatoire.

Learning to use electronic health records: can we stay patient-centered? A pre-post intervention study with family medicine residents.

BACKGROUND: The Electronic Health Record (EHR) is now widely used in clinical encounters. Because its use can negatively impact the physician-patient relationship, several recommendations on the "patient-centered" use of the EHR have been published. However, the impact of training to improve EHR use during clinical encounters is not well known. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of training on residents' EHR-related communication skills and explore whether they varied according to the content of the consultation. METHODS: We conducted a pre-post intervention study at the Primary Care Division of the Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland. Residents were invited to attend a 3-month training course that included 2 large group sessions and 2-4 individualized coaching sessions based on videotaped encounters. Outcomes were: 1) residents' perceptions regarding the use of EHR, measured through a self-administered questionnaire and 2) objective use of the EHR during the first 10 min of patient encounters. Changes in practice were measured pre and post intervention using the Roter interaction analysis system (RIAS) and EHR specific items. RESULTS: Seventeen out of 27 residents took part in the study. Participants used EHR in about 30% of consultations. After training, they were less likely to consider EHR to be a barrier to the physician-patient relationship, and felt more comfortable using the EHR. After training, participants increased the use of signposting when using the EHR (pre: 0.77, SD 1.69; post: 1.80, SD3.35; p 0.035) and decreased EHR use when psychosocial issues appeared (pre: 24.5% and post: 9.76%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that training can improve residents' EHR-related communication skills, especially in situations where patients bring up sensitive psychosocial issues. Future research should focus on patients' perceptions of the relevance and usefulness of such skills.

[2015 Update in ambulatory general internal medicine]. / Médecine interne générale ambulatoire.

This article summarizes a selection of recently published clinical and public health articles of interest to primary care physicians. It touches upon the use of new oral anticoagulant in atrial fibrillation, the efficacy of baclofen for alcohol dependence, the pathogen identification in community acquired pneumonia, the accuracy of emergency room diagnosis in patients with ill-defined symptoms, the relationship between sleep and susceptibility to infection, the benefits of smoking cessation and of a new vaccine against zoster in elderly patients and finally the distribution of health literacy in Europe.

[Computers in the consultation: can we stay patient-centered?]. / L'ordinateur en consultation: peut-on rester centré sur le patient?

Eletronic health records (EHR) are now part of most medical practices in many countries including Switzerland. Their use facilitates access and exchange of information among health professionals, improves the quality of medical care and decreases the number of medical errors. Even patients express their satisfaction with the use of EHR. However, it has been observed that use of EHR can modify patient-physician communication. The present article describes the different elements linked to EHR which can enhance or inhibit patient-physician communication. It also suggests strategies for improving it.

[Medical certification for high altitude travel and scuba diving]. / Certificats médicaux pour les séjours en haute montagne et la plongée sous-marine.

People are more and more looking for adventures and discovery of unusual locations. Journeys to high altitude and scuba diving are part of these activities and their access has become easier for a lot of people not necessarily experienced with their dangers. The general practitioner will have to be able to deliver some advices and recommendations to his patients about the risks related to these activities and their ability to practice them. He will also have to deliver some certificates of medical fitness to dive. This paper proposes a brief review of the most important medical aspects to know about high altitude and scuba diving.

Management of residents in difficulty in a Swiss general internal medicine outpatient clinic: Change is necessary!

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Residents in difficulty are a major cause for concern in medical education, with a prevalence of 7-15%. They are often detected late in their training and cannot make use of remediation plans. Nowadays, most training hospitals in Switzerland do not have a specific program to identify and manage residents in difficulty. The aim of the study was to explore the challenges perceived by physicians regarding the process of identifying, diagnosing, and supporting residents in difficulty in a structured and programmatic way. We explored perceptions of physicians at different hierarchical levels (residents (R), Chief residents (CR), attending physicians (A), Chief Physician (CP)) in order to better understand these challenges. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study between December 2015 and July 2016. We asked volunteers from the Primary Care Division of the Geneva University Hospitals to partake to three focus groups (with CR, A, R) and one interview with the division's CP. We transcribed, coded, and qualitatively analyzed the three focus groups and the interview, using a content thematic approach and Fishbein's conceptual framework. RESULTS: We identified similarities and differences in the challenges of the management of residents in difficulty on a programmatic way amongst physicians of different hierarchical levels. Our main findings: Supervisors (CR, A, CP) have good identification skills of residents in difficulty, but they did not put in place systematic remediation strategies.Supervisors (CR, A) were concerned about managing residents in difficulty. They were aware of the possible adverse effects on patient care, but "feared to harm" resident's career by documenting a poor institutional assessment.Residents "feared to share" their own difficulties with their supervisors. They thought that it would impact their career negatively.The four physician's hierarchical level reported environmental constraints (lack of funding, time constraint, lack of time and resources…). CONCLUSION: Our results add two perspectives to specialized recommendations regarding the implementation of remediation programs for residents in difficulty. The first revolves around the need to identify and fully understand not only the beliefs but also the implicit norms and the feeling of self-efficacy that are shared by teachers and that are likely to motivate them to engage in the management of residents in difficulty. The second emphasizes the importance of analyzing these elements that constitute the context for a change and of identifying, in close contact with the heads of the institutions, which factors may favor or hinder it. This research action process has fostered awareness and discussions at different levels. Since then, various actions and processes have been put in place at the Faculty of Medicine in Geneva.

Multimorbidity and clinical reasoning through the eyes of GPs: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the high prevalence of patients suffering from multimorbidity, the clinical reasoning processes involved during the longitudinal management are still sparse.This study aimed to investigate what are the different characteristics of the clinical reasoning process clinicians use with patients suffering from multimorbidity, and to what extent this clinical reasoning differs from diagnostic reasoning. DESIGN: Given the exploratory nature of this study and the difficulty general practitioners (GPs) have in expressing their reasoning, a qualitative methodology was therefore, chosen. The Clinical reasoning Model described by Charlin et al was used as a framework to describe the multifaceted processes of the clinical reasoning. SETTING: Semistructured interviews were conducted with nine GPs working in an ambulatory setting in June to September 2018, in Geneva, Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were GPs who came from public hospital or private practice. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and a thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The results highlighted how some cognitive processes seem to be more specific to the management reasoning.Thus, the main goal is not to reach a diagnosis, but rather to consider several possibilities in order to maintain a balance between the evidence-based care options, patient's priorities and maintaining quality of life. The initial representation of the current problem seems to be more related to the importance of establishing links between the different pre-existing diseases, identifying opportunities for actions and trying to integrate the new elements from the patient's context, rather than identifying the signs and symptoms that can lead to generating new clinical hypotheses. The multiplicity of options to resolve problems is often perceived as difficult by GPs. Furthermore, longitudinal management does not allow them to achieve a final resolution of problems and that requires continuous review and an ongoing prioritisation process. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to a better understanding of the clinical reasoning processes of GPs in the longitudinal management of patients suffering from multimorbidity. Through a practical and accessible model, this qualitative study offers new perspectives for identifying the components of management reasoning. These results open the path to new research projects.

What factors influence the use of electronic health records during the first 10 minutes of the clinical encounter?

PURPOSE: The use of electronic health records (EHRs) by physicians during the consultation is common and can be problematic. Factors influencing the use of EHRs during clinical encounters include physician and patient characteristics, consultation type as well as spatial organization of the room and type of EHR template. Their relative importance is however not well known. This study aimed to explore to what extent several physician, patient and consultation factors were associated with EHR use during the first 10 minutes of primary care consultations. METHODS: We examined EHR use of 17 residents in 142 videotaped consultations at the Primary Care Division of the Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland. We conducted univariable and multivariable analyses with patient, physician and consultation variables to predict EHR use: sex and age of the patient; physician's sex, age, postgraduate experience and EHR-use self-perception; and language, type of consultation (new/follow-up) and content of the consultation using the Roter interaction analysis system (RIAS), the main variable being the percentage of utterances in relation to EHR use during the first 10 minutes. RESULTS: Male physicians (residents) and those with less clinical experience and conducting a new consultation or addressing biomedical content were positively correlated with EHR use (+5.3% for male physicians, P=0.101; +0.6% per year of experience, P=0.021; +6.0% for new consultation, P=0.097; +0.4% per 1% of biomedical content increase; P=0.018). CONCLUSION: Only a small number of physician, patient and consultation factors appear to have an impact on the use of EHR during primary care consultations, and this impact remains modest. Given the influence of EHR use on physician-patient relationship, further research should explore what other factors are implicated in EHR use and whether they can be changed or improved.

A teaching skills assessment tool inspired by the Calgary-Cambridge model and the patient-centered approach.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a descriptive tool for peer review of clinical teaching skills. Two analogies framed our research: (1) between the patient-centered and the learner-centered approach; (2) between the structures of clinical encounters (Calgary-Cambridge communication model) and teaching sessions. METHOD: During the course of one year, each step of the action research was carried out in collaboration with twelve clinical teachers from an outpatient general internal medicine clinic and with three experts in medical education. The content validation consisted of a literature review, expert opinion and the participatory research process. Interrater reliability was evaluated by three clinical teachers coding thirty audiotaped standardized learner-teacher interactions. RESULTS: This tool contains sixteen items covering the process and content of clinical supervisions. Descriptors define the expected teaching behaviors for three levels of competence. Interrater reliability was significant for eleven items (Kendall's coefficient p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This peer assessment tool has high reliability and can be used to facilitate the acquisition of teaching skills.