Social workers' formal and informal leadership in interprofessional primary care teams in Ontario, Canada.

The development of interprofessional teams in primary care presents opportunities for social workers to take on new leadership positions. This study seeks to describe how social workers engaged in leadership roles in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional on-line survey was disseminated to primary care social workers across Ontario, Canada, with a total of 159 respondents. Most respondents engaged in informal leadership roles and showcased a range of leadership skills promoting team collaboration and consultations, along with adapting to virtual care transitions. Findings suggest there needs to be intentional cultivation of social work leaders through supportive environments and training. Social workers in primary care have leadership capacity and are providing leadership to their primary care teams through formal and informal means. The leadership potential of social workers in primary care teams, however, is being underutilized and can be further developed.

Energetic Basis for Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Congestion in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Transient pulmonary congestion during exercise is emerging as an important determinant of reduced exercise capacity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We sought to determine whether an abnormal cardiac energetic state underpins this process. METHODS: We recruited patients across the spectrum of diastolic dysfunction and HFpEF (controls, n=11; type 2 diabetes, n=9; HFpEF, n=14; and severe diastolic dysfunction attributable to cardiac amyloidosis, n=9). Cardiac energetics were measured using phosphorus spectroscopy to define the myocardial phosphocreatine to ATP ratio. Cardiac function was assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance cine imaging and echocardiography and lung water using magnetic resonance proton density mapping. Studies were performed at rest and during submaximal exercise using a magnetic resonance imaging ergometer. RESULTS: Paralleling the stepwise decline in diastolic function across the groups (E/e' ratio; P<0.001) was an increase in NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide; P<0.001) and a reduction in phosphocreatine/ATP ratio (control, 2.15 [2.09, 2.29]; type 2 diabetes, 1.71 [1.61, 1.91]; HFpEF, 1.66 [1.44, 1.89]; cardiac amyloidosis, 1.30 [1.16, 1.53]; P<0.001). During 20-W exercise, lower left ventricular diastolic filling rates (r=0.58; P<0.001), lower left ventricular diastolic reserve (r=0.55; P<0.001), left atrial dilatation (r=-0.52; P<0.001), lower right ventricular contractile reserve (right ventricular ejection fraction change, r=0.57; P<0.001), and right atrial dilation (r=-0.71; P<0.001) were all linked to lower phosphocreatine/ATP ratio. Along with these changes, pulmonary proton density mapping revealed transient pulmonary congestion in patients with HFpEF (+4.4% [0.5, 6.4]; P=0.002) and cardiac amyloidosis (+6.4% [3.3, 10.0]; P=0.004), which was not seen in healthy controls (-0.1% [-1.9, 2.1]; P=0.89) or type 2 diabetes without HFpEF (+0.8% [-1.7, 1.9]; P=0.82). The development of exercise-induced pulmonary congestion was associated with lower phosphocreatine/ATP ratio (r=-0.43; P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: A gradient of myocardial energetic deficit exists across the spectrum of HFpEF. Even at low workload, this energetic deficit is related to markedly abnormal exercise responses in all 4 cardiac chambers, which is associated with detectable pulmonary congestion. The findings support an energetic basis for transient pulmonary congestion in HFpEF.

Recommendations for virtual care in primary care practices: a survey of patients across Ontario, Canada.

Context: The onset of COVID-19 has required the rapid adoption of virtual services in primary care (PC) practices, and virtual care delivery is likely to continue to some extent post-pandemic. Objective: To understand patient experience with synchronous virtual (telephone (Tel)/Video) appointments and elicit recommendations for its future use. Design: Mixed method, including patient survey co-developed with stakeholders and implemented online Feb-Mar 2021 with large promotional efforts through social media, patient and caregiver organizations, and other networks. We report on the survey results. Eligibility: 1+ virtual encounter in PC. Outcome measures: A) Patient experience scale (12/17 questions for Tel/Video) covering 4 sub-dimensions; B) Access related questions. Questions had 5-point Likert scale items (strongly disagree (-2) to strongly agree (+2)) and were converted into percentage (potential range -100%, +100%) Setting : Ontario, Canada which offers universal coverage for PC visits with no co-payment. Results: 534 eligible respondents (402/18/114 had Tel/Video/both): Females (78%), < 55 years (61%), white (75%), employed (61%), bachelor's degree (74%), family income > 100k (52%). Encounters evaluated were with family physicians (vs other health professionals) for 75%/46% of Tel/Video encounters. A) Patient Experience (Tel/Video) overall score: 75%/78%; Sub-dimensions: technology: 92%/84%, patient-provider relationship: 83%/86%, quality of care: 66%/66%, whole-person care: 43%/53%. Factors associated with a statistically significant(*) > 10% higher overall score in tel and/or video were: non-females: (8%*/14%*), French speaking (13%*/16%*), patient-provider relationship >1 year (16%*/7%), provider age < 50 (5%/15%*), having the choice of appointment time (15%*/21%*). Wanting to show problem to the provider was associated with a lower scores (-23%*/NA). B) Access Respondents overwhelmingly reported that Tel/Video visits reduced time (97%/97%), costs (81%/85%), and was more convenient (91%/91%). The majority wanted Tel (69%) and Video (71%) visits at least as often as in person visits post-covid. Only 5% did not want any future virtual care. Conclusions: Patient experience was largely positive and is influenced by patient/provider factors. Patients and providers may benefit from support/training to optimize care experience. We are now evaluating whether the reasons for visits influences care experience.

Obesity modifies the energetic phenotype of dilated cardiomyopathy.

AIMS: We sought to determine if myocardial energetics could distinguish obesity cardiomyopathy as a distinct entity from dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixteen normal weight participants with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMNW), and 27 with DCM and obesity (DCMOB), were compared to 26 normal weight controls (CTLNW). All underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and 31P spectroscopy to assess function and energetics. Nineteen DCMOB underwent repeat assessment after a dietary weight loss intervention. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) delivery through creatine kinase (CK flux) was 55% lower in DCMNW than in CTLNW (P = 0.004), correlating with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, r = 0.4, P = 0.015). In contrast, despite similar LVEF (DCMOB 41 ± 7%, DCMNW 38 ± 6%, P = 0.14), CK flux was two-fold higher in DCMOB (P < 0.001), due to higher rate through CK [median kf 0.21 (0.14) vs. 0.11 (0.12) s-1, P = 0.002]. During increased workload, the CTLNW heart increased CK flux by 97% (P < 0.001). In contrast, CK flux was unchanged in DCMNW and fell in DCMOB (by >50%, P < 0.001). Intentional weight loss was associated with positive left ventricular remodelling, with reduced left ventricular end-diastolic volume (by 8%, P < 0.001) and a change in LVEF (40 ± 9% vs. 45 ± 10%, P = 0.002). This occurred alongside a fall in ATP delivery rate with weight loss (by 7%, P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: In normal weight, DCM is associated with reduced resting ATP delivery. In obese DCM, ATP demand through CK is greater, suggesting reduced efficiency of energy utilization. Dietary weight loss is associated with significant improvement in myocardial contractility, and a fall in ATP delivery, suggesting improved metabolic efficiency. This highlights distinct energetic pathways in obesity cardiomyopathy, which are both different from dilated cardiomyopathy, and may be reversible with weight loss.

Using Trusted Relationships and Community-Led Approaches to Promote COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Uptake across Ontario.

Data underscore how challenging it can be for populations that experience systemic and historical barriers to access necessary health information and services, including COVID-19 vaccinations and testing. In this paper, we describe the initiatives used by member centres of Alliance for Healthier Communities to promote vaccine confidence and uptake, highlight specific examples that applied a health equity lens, describe some of the challenges that centres faced and explore the key enablers for these initiatives. Lessons learned here can be used to engage in other health promoting activities including population health efforts currently under way across the country.

Myocardial Energetics in Obesity: Enhanced ATP Delivery Through Creatine Kinase With Blunted Stress Response.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is strongly associated with exercise intolerance and the development of heart failure. Whereas myocardial energetics and diastolic function are impaired in obesity, systolic function is usually preserved. This suggests that the rate of ATP delivery is maintained, but this has never been explored in human obesity. We hypothesized that ATP transfer rate through creatine kinase (CK) (kfCKrest) would be increased, compensating for depleted energy stores (phosphocreatine/ATP), but potentially limiting greater ATP delivery during increased workload. We hypothesized that these changes would normalize with weight loss. METHODS: We recruited 80 volunteers (35 controls [body mass index 24±3 kg/m2], 45 obese [body mass index 35±5 kg/m2]) without coexisting cardiovascular disease. Participants underwent body composition analysis, magnetic resonance imaging of abdominal, liver, and myocardial fat content, left ventricular function, and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess phosphocreatine/ATP and CK kinetics, at rest and during dobutamine stress. Obese volunteers were assigned to a dietary weight loss intervention, before reexamination. RESULTS: At rest, although myocardial phosphocreatine/ATP was 14% lower in obesity (1.9±0.3 versus 2.2±0.2, P<0.001), kfCkrest was 33% higher (0.23±0.07 s-1 versus 0.16±0.08 s-1, P=0.002), yielding no difference in overall resting ATP delivery (obese 2.5±0.9 µmol·g-1·s-1 versus control 2.2±1.1 µmol·g-1·s-1, P=0.232). In controls, increasing cardiac workload led to an increase in both kfCK (+86%, P<0.001) and ATP delivery (+80%, P<0.001). However, in obesity, similar stress led to no significant increase in either kfCK (P=0.117) or ATP delivery (P=0.608). This was accompanied by reduced systolic augmentation (absolute increase in left ventricular ejection fraction, obese +16±7% versus control +21±4%, P=0.031). Successful weight loss (-11±5% body weight) was associated with improvement of these energetic changes such that there was no significant difference in comparison with controls. CONCLUSIONS: In the obese resting heart, the myocardial CK reaction rate is increased, maintaining ATP delivery despite reduced phosphocreatine/ATP. During increased workload, although the nonobese heart increases ATP delivery through CK, the obese heart does not; this is associated with reduced systolic augmentation and exercise tolerance. Weight loss reverses these energetic changes. This highlights myocardial energy delivery through CK as a potential therapeutic target to improve symptoms in obesity-related heart disease, and a fascinating modifiable pathway involved in the progression to heart failure, as well.

Cardiac Energetics in Patients With Aortic Stenosis and Preserved Versus Reduced Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Why some but not all patients with severe aortic stenosis (SevAS) develop otherwise unexplained reduced systolic function is unclear. We investigate the hypothesis that reduced creatine kinase (CK) capacity and flux is associated with this transition. METHODS: We recruited 102 participants to 5 groups: moderate aortic stenosis (ModAS) (n=13), SevAS, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction ≥55% (SevAS-preserved ejection fraction, n=37), SevAS, LV ejection fraction <55% (SevAS-reduced ejection fraction, n=15), healthy volunteers with nonhypertrophied hearts with normal systolic function (normal healthy volunteer, n=30), and patients with nonhypertrophied, non-pressure-loaded hearts with normal systolic function undergoing cardiac surgery and donating LV biopsy (non-pressure-loaded heart biopsy, n=7). All underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy for myocardial energetics. LV biopsies (AS and non-pressure-loaded heart biopsy) were analyzed for CK total activity, CK isoforms, citrate synthase activity, and total creatine. Mitochondria-sarcomere diffusion distances were calculated by using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: In the absence of failure, CK flux was lower in the presence of AS (by 32%, P=0.04), driven primarily by reduction in phosphocreatine/ATP (by 17%, P<0.001), with CK kf unchanged (P=0.46). Although lowest in the SevAS-reduced ejection fraction group, CK flux was not different from the SevAS-preserved ejection fraction group (P>0.99). Accompanying the fall in CK flux, total CK and citrate synthase activities and the absolute activities of mitochondrial-type CK and CK-MM isoforms were also lower (P<0.02, all analyses). Median mitochondria-sarcomere diffusion distances correlated well with CK total activity (r=0.86, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Total CK capacity is reduced in SevAS, with median values lowest in those with systolic failure, consistent with reduced energy supply reserve. Despite this, in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures of resting CK flux suggest that ATP delivery is reduced earlier, at the moderate AS stage, where LV function remains preserved. These findings show that significant energetic impairment is already established in moderate AS and suggest that a fall in CK flux is not by itself a necessary cause of transition to systolic failure. However, because ATP demands increase with AS severity, this could increase susceptibility to systolic failure. As such, targeting CK capacity and flux may be a therapeutic strategy to prevent and treat systolic failure in AS.

Learning health systems in primary care: a systematic scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Learning health systems have been gaining traction over the past decade. The purpose of this study was to understand the spread of learning health systems in primary care, including where they have been implemented, how they are operating, and potential challenges and solutions. METHODS: We completed a scoping review by systematically searching OVID Medline®, Embase®, IEEE Xplore®, and reviewing specific journals from 2007 to 2020. We also completed a Google search to identify gray literature. RESULTS: We reviewed 1924 articles through our database search and 51 articles from other sources, from which we identified 21 unique learning health systems based on 62 data sources. Only one of these learning health systems was implemented exclusively in a primary care setting, where all others were integrated health systems or networks that also included other care settings. Eighteen of the 21 were in the United States. Examples of how these learning health systems were being used included real-time clinical surveillance, quality improvement initiatives, pragmatic trials at the point of care, and decision support. Many challenges and potential solutions were identified regarding data, sustainability, promoting a learning culture, prioritization processes, involvement of community, and balancing quality improvement versus research. CONCLUSIONS: We identified 21 learning health systems, which all appear at an early stage of development, and only one was primary care only. We summarized and provided examples of integrated health systems and data networks that can be considered early models in the growing global movement to advance learning health systems in primary care.

A Rapid Primary Healthcare Response to COVID-19: An Equity-Based and Systems-Thinking Approach to Care Ensuring that No One Is Left Behind.

Recent data from across the globe show that COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting those who are already adversely impacted by social determinants of health. In this paper, we explore how members of the Alliance for Healthier Communities - comprehensive, salary-based primary care organizations in Ontario - anticipated the same and rapidly responded by adapting their services to ensure continued equitable access to primary care services. Lessons from this project could be adapted in other primary care team-based models or partnerships to ensure ongoing support for populations that are most at risk from COVID-19 and the consequences of restricted access to services.

Very low calorie diets are associated with transient ventricular impairment before reversal of diastolic dysfunction in obesity.

OBJECTIVES: Very low calorie diets (VLCDs) are effective at clearing hepatic steatosis and improving insulin sensitivity. Whilst long-term weight loss is beneficial to the cardiovascular system, the acute elevation in fatty acids during caloric restriction is potentially detrimental to cardiac metabolism and function. We sought to investigate any cardiovascular changes occurring over the course of a modern VLCD regime, alongside the expected peripheral metabolic improvements. METHODS: 25 obese volunteers (BMI 36.8 ± 5.8 kg/m2) underwent magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography, metabolic profiling, and bio-impedance analysis before 1 and 8 weeks following a VLCD (800 kcal/day). Results were compared to 15 age- and sex-matched controls. RESULTS: After 1 week of VLCD, despite only modest weight loss, significant drops occurred in liver fat and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; by 14-50%, all p < 0.01). In contrast, myocardial triglyceride content (MTGC) increased (by 48%, p = 0.030), and was associated with deterioration in both systolic (LVEF by 4%, p = 0.041) and diastolic function (e/e' 8.6 ± 1.4 to 9.4 ± 1.7, p = 0.019). Aortic stiffness also increased by 35% (p = 0.015). At 8 weeks, liver steatosis and visceral fat were lower than baseline (by 20-55%, p < 0.001), and peripheral metabolic improvements continued. MTGC also fell to below baseline (1.5 ± 0.6 vs 2.1 ± 1%, p = 0.05) with improved myocardial function (e/e' 8.6 ± 1.4 to 7.5 ± 1.5, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Whilst VLCDs result in dramatic improvements in insulin resistance, they are associated with transient but significant cardiovascular functional decline, which may have an impact on those with the coexisting cardiac disease. However, after 8 weeks, the diet was associated with normalisation of cardiac function, suggesting they may form a potential therapeutic intervention for diastolic dysfunction in obesity and diabetes.

Localized rest and stress human cardiac creatine kinase reaction kinetics at 3 T.

Changes in the kinetics of the creatine kinase (CK) shuttle are sensitive markers of cardiac energetics but are typically measured at rest and in the prone position. This study aims to measure CK kinetics during pharmacological stress at 3 T, with measurement in the supine position. A shorter "stressed saturation transfer" (StreST) extension to the triple repetition time saturation transfer (TRiST) method is proposed. We assess scanning in a supine position and validate the MR measurement against biopsy assay of CK activity. We report normal ranges of stress CK forward rate (kfCK ) for healthy volunteers and obese patients. TRiST measures kfCK in 40 min at 3 T. StreST extends the previously developed TRiST to also make a further kfCK measurement during <20 min of dobutamine stress. We test our TRiST implementation in skeletal muscle and myocardium in both prone and supine positions. We evaluate StreST in the myocardium of six healthy volunteers and 34 obese subjects. We validated MR-measured kfCK against biopsy assays of CK activity. TRiST kfCK values matched literature values in skeletal muscle (kfCK  = 0.25 ± 0.03 s-1 vs 0.27 ± 0.03 s-1 ) and myocardium when measured in the prone position (0.32 ± 0.15 s-1 ), but a significant difference was found for TRiST kfCK measured supine (0.24 ± 0.12 s-1 ). This difference was because of different respiratory- and cardiac-motion-induced B0 changes in the two positions. Using supine TRiST, cardiac kfCK values for normal-weight subjects were 0.15 ± 0.09 s-1 at rest and 0.17 ± 0.15 s-1 during stress. For obese subjects, kfCK was 0.16 ± 0.07 s-1 at rest and 0.17 ± 0.10 s-1 during stress. Rest myocardial kfCK and CK activity from LV biopsies of the same subjects correlated (R = 0.43, p = 0.03). We present an independent implementation of TRiST on the Siemens platform using a commercially available coil. Our extended StreST protocol enables cardiac kfCK to be measured during dobutamine-induced stress in the supine position.

The interplay between metabolic alterations, diastolic strain rate and exercise capacity in mild heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is characterized by altered myocardial substrate metabolism which can lead to myocardial triglyceride accumulation (steatosis) and lipotoxicity. However its role in mild HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is uncertain. We measured myocardial triglyceride content (MTG) in HFpEF and assessed its relationships with diastolic function and exercise capacity. METHODS: Twenty seven HFpEF (clinical features of HF, left ventricular EF >50%, evidence of mild diastolic dysfunction and evidence of exercise limitation as assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise test) and 14 controls underwent 1H-cardiovascular magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-CMRS) to measure MTG (lipid/water, %), 31P-CMRS to measure myocardial energetics (phosphocreatine-to-adenosine triphosphate - PCr/ATP) and feature-tracking cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging for diastolic strain rate. RESULTS: When compared to controls, HFpEF had 2.3 fold higher in MTG (1.45 ± 0.25% vs. 0.64 ± 0.16%, p = 0.009) and reduced PCr/ATP (1.60 ± 0.09 vs. 2.00 ± 0.10, p = 0.005). HFpEF had significantly reduced diastolic strain rate and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), which both correlated significantly with elevated MTG and reduced PCr/ATP. On multivariate analyses, MTG was independently associated with diastolic strain rate while diastolic strain rate was independently associated with VO2 max. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial steatosis is pronounced in mild HFpEF, and is independently associated with impaired diastolic strain rate which is itself related to exercise capacity. Steatosis may adversely affect exercise capacity by indirect effect occurring via impairment in diastolic function. As such, myocardial triglyceride may become a potential therapeutic target to treat the increasing number of patients with HFpEF.

Investigating a Liver Fat: Arterial Stiffening Pathway in Adult and Childhood Obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between hepatic fat content, circulating triglyceride levels and aortic stiffness in adult and childhood obesity. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Seventy-seven adults and 18 children across a wide range of body mass index (18.5-52.6 kg/m(2); percentile 8-100) with no identifiable cardiac risk factors underwent; 1H- magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify hepatic fat content and magnetic resonance imaging to assess aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and regional distensibility. In adults, multivariable regression showed age (ß=0.09; P=0.02), liver fat (ß=2.5; P=0.04), and serum triglyceride (ß=0.47; P=0.01) to be independent predictors of PWV. Age and blood pressure-adjusted, moderated regression showed that 43% of the total negative effect of hepatic fat on PWV is attributable to indirect effects via increased triglyceride (P=0.005). In addition, regional distensibility was positively correlated with hepatic fat (ascending; r=-0.35; descending, r=-0.23; abdominal, r=-0.41; all P<0.001). Similar to that seen in adults, PWV (r=0.72; P<0.001) and abdominal regional distensibility (r=-0.52; P<0.001) were correlated with liver fat in children. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing age, liver fat, and triglyceride are all related to increased aortic stiffness in adults. Even when controlling for the effects of age and blood pressure, hepatic fat has a negative effect on PWV, with substantial indirect effect occurring via increased circulating triglyceride level. This relationship between hepatic fat and aortic stiffness occurs early in the obesity process and is also seen in children. As such, hepatic fat content is a potential therapeutic target to treat the elevated vascular risk in obesity.

Staff perceptions of community health centre team function in Ontario.

OBJECTIVE: To examine perceptions of different staff groups about team functioning in mature, community-governed, interprofessional primary health care practices. DESIGN: Cross-sectional online survey. SETTING: The 75 community health centres (CHCs) in Ontario at the time of the study, which have cared for people with barriers to access to traditional health services in community-governed, interprofessional settings, providing medical, social, and community services since the 1970s. PARTICIPANTS: Managers and staff of primary care teams in the CHCs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores on the short version of the Team Climate Inventory (with subscales addressing vision, task orientation, support for innovation, and participative safety), the Organizational Justice Scale (with subscales addressing procedural justice and interactional justice), and the Organizational Citizenship Behavior Scale, stratified by staff group (clinical manager, FP, nurse practitioner [NP], registered nurse, medical secretary, social worker, allied health provider, counselor, outreach worker, and administrative assistant). RESULTS: A total of 674 staff members in 58 of 75 (77%) CHCs completed surveys. All staff groups generally reported positive perceptions of team function. The procedural justice subscale showed the greatest variation between groups. Family physicians and NPs rated procedural justice much lower than nurses and administrators did. CONCLUSION: This study provides a unique view of the perceptions of different groups of staff in a long-standing interprofessional practice model. Future research is needed to understand why FPs and NPs perceive procedural justice more negatively than other team members do, and whether such perceptions affect outcomes such as staff turnover and health outcomes for patients.

Black-focused social prescribing: the importance of an Afrocentric approach. / Prescription sociale à l'intention des personnes noires : l'importance d'une approche afrocentrique.

The Black-Focused Social Prescribing (BFSP) project is a unique initiative by the Alliance for Healthier Communities that intertwines Afrocentric principles with social prescribing. Going beyond conventional social prescribing models, BFSP addresses specific health needs within Black communities. It is rooted in the Alliance Black Health Strategy, advocates for Black health, and is guided by Afrocentric principles. The evaluation framework prioritizes client voices, ensuring cultural safety and, by taking time for trust-building, underscores the importance of an inclusive approach. BFSP holds the potential to foster community trust and engagement, and enhance health outcomes in the Black community.

Social prescribing is a health care approach that connects social and clinical aspects of health. Ensuring access to services without discrimination is crucial for improving the health of Black people in Ontario. Tailored interventions are increasingly recognized as necessary to address challenges faced by diverse ethnic and cultural groups. Black-focused social prescribing, particularly the Afrocentric approach, aims to enhance the health outcomes of Black individuals. Evaluating a Black-focused social prescribing program requires time to create a framework and to consider its nuanced aspects.

La prescription sociale est une approche en matière de soins de santé qui met en relation les aspects sociaux et cliniques de la santé. Il est essentiel d'assurer un accès aux services sans discrimination pour améliorer la santé des personnes noires en Ontario. Les interventions adaptées sont de plus en plus reconnues comme nécessaires pour affronter les difficultés auxquelles font face divers groupes ethniques et culturels. La prescription sociale à l'intention des personnes noires, plus particulièrement l'approche afrocentrique, vise à améliorer les résultats en matière de santé des personnes noires. Pour évaluer un programme de prescription sociale à l'intention des personnes noires, il faut prendre le temps de créer un cadre et de prendre en compte ses aspects nuancés.

The impact of leadership style in team-based primary care - staff satisfaction and motivation.

BACKGROUND: Leadership styles, beliefs, and behaviours are an important and critical component to the delivery of quality care in any primary care organisation. The human resource crisis in health care has resulted in greater investments in team-based care; however, some leaders may not have experience working in team-based settings. AIM: To explore what leadership characteristics, styles, and behaviours were most conducive to employee satisfaction, motivation, and delivery of care in a team-based primary care setting. DESIGN & SETTING: A qualitative study involving 16 community health centre (CHC) staff from six CHCs across Ontario, Canada. METHOD: Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews using a framework based on transformational leadership (TL) theory. RESULTS: The following three themes emerged from our findings as having a noticeable impact on staff motivation, morale, delivery of care, and client outcomes: transparent and open communication; opportunities to collaborate in decision making; and staff recognition and appreciation. The results of our study indicate it is critical that leaders adopt leadership styles and approaches in which every team member is informed, heard, and appreciated. CONCLUSION: This study described the leadership styles and characteristics that lead to improved employee satisfaction, motivation, and morale in a team-based primary care setting, and the impact this could and does have on quality and delivery of care. Future research is needed to better understand the impact of leadership in a variety of roles within a team-based environment, specifically in a multidisciplinary setting.

Factors influencing nurse practitioner panel size in team-based primary care: a qualitative case study.

BACKGROUND: Lack of access to health care is a worldwide public health crisis. In primary care it has led to increases in the implementation of nurse practitioners and heightened interest in their patient panel capacity. The aim of this study was to examine factors influencing nurse practitioner patient panel size in team-based primary care in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: We used a multiple case study design. Eight team-based primary care practices including rural and urban settings were purposively selected as cases. Each case had two or more nurse practitioners with a minimum of two years experience in the primary care setting. Interviews were conducted in-person, audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: Forty participants, including 19 nurse practitioners, 16 administrators (inclusive of executives, managers, and receptionists), and 5 physicians were interviewed. Patient, provider, organizational, and system factors influenced nurse practitioner patient panel size. There were eight sub-factors: complexity of patients' health and social needs; holistic nursing model of care; nurse practitioner experience and confidence; composition and functioning of the multidisciplinary team; clerical and administrative supports, and nurse practitioner activities and expectations. All participants found it difficult to identify the panel size of nurse practitioners, calling it- "a grey area." Establishing and maintaining a longitudinal relationship that responded holistically to patients' needs was fundamental to how nurse practitioners provided care. Social factors such as gender, poverty, mental health concerns, historical trauma, marginalisation and literacy contributed to the complexity of patients' needs. Participants indicated NPs tried to address all of a patient's concerns at each visit. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse practitioners have a holistic approach that incorporates attention to the social determinants of health as well as acute and chronic comorbidities. This approach compels them to try to address all of the needs a patient is experiencing at each visit and reduces their panel size. Multidisciplinary teams have an opportunity to be deliberate when structuring their services across providers to meet more of the health and social needs of empanelled patients. This could enable increases in nurse practitioner panel size.

Pharmacists' role and experiences with delivering mental health care within team-based primary care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Pharmacists have been increasingly integrated into primary care teams, leading to improved health outcomes for patients. The two objectives of this study were (i) to describe how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted pharmacists' role in mental health care within Canadian primary care teams and (ii) to describe Canadian pharmacists' experiences collaborating with other healthcare providers in the delivery of mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study utilizing an online survey consisting of closed-ended and open-ended questions. Primary care pharmacists in Ontario were eligible to participate. Descriptive statistics were collated, and qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. A total of 51 pharmacists participated in the study. KEY FINDINGS: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the expanding role of pharmacists in attending to the mental health care of patients. Working within a collaborative, interprofessional healthcare environment, pharmacists support patients' mental health in a variety of ways, including medication education and management, non-pharmacologic approaches and supportive conversations, and identification of resources, including referrals, wellness checks, and consulting with physicians. Increasing demand for mental health services has led to higher referrals to pharmacists, which will likely persist and require further education of pharmacists in mental health along with better access to deliver virtual care. CONCLUSION: In response to the increasing mental health care needs of patients since the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care pharmacists reported increased attention spent on mental health care. Building capacity and ensuring support for pharmacists to continue to address the increasing mental health care demands is essential.

Patient poverty and workload in primary care: study of prescription drug benefit recipients in community health centres.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if patient poverty is associated with increased workload for primary care providers (PCPs). DESIGN: Linkage of administrative data identifying patient poverty and comorbidity with survey data about the organizational structure of community health centres (CHCs). SETTING: Ontario's 73 CHCs. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 64 CHC sites (N=63 included in the analysis). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient poverty was determined in 2 different ways: based on receipt of Ontario Drug Benefits (identifying recipients of welfare, provincial disability support, and low-income seniors' benefits) or residence in low-income neighbourhoods. Patient comorbidities were determined through administrative diagnostic data from the CHCs and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. Primary care workload was determined by examining PCP panel size (the number of patients cared for by a full-time-equivalent PCP during a 2-year interval). RESULTS: The CHCs with higher proportions of poor patients had smaller panel sizes. The smaller panel sizes were entirely explained by the medical comorbidity profile of the poor patients. CONCLUSION: Poor patients generate a higher workload for PCPs in CHCs; however, this is principally because they are sicker than higher-income patients are. Further information is required about the spectrum of services used by poor patients in CHCs.