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Primary care experience and remission of Type 2 diabetes: a population-based prospective cohort study
Background: Remission of Type 2 diabetes is achievable through dietary change and weight loss. In the UK, lifestyle advice and referrals to weight loss programmes predominantly occur in primary care where most Type 2 diabetes is managed. Objective: To quantify the association between primary care experience and remission of Type 2 diabetes over 5-year follow-up. Methods: A prospective cohort study of adults with Type 2 diabetes registered to 49 general practices in the East of England, UK. Participants were followed-up for 5 years and completed the Consultation and Relational Empathy measure (CARE) on diabetes-specific primary care experiences over the first year after diagnosis of the disease. Remission at 5-year follow-up was measured with HbA1c levels. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to quantify the association between primary care experience and remission of diabetes. Results: Of 867 participants, 30% (257) achieved remission of Type 2 diabetes at 5 years. Six hundred twenty-eight had complete data at follow-up and were included in the analysis. Participants who reported higher CARE scores in the 12 months following diagnosis were more likely to achieve remission at 5 years in multivariable models; odds ratio = 1.03 (95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.05, P = 0.01). Conclusion: Primary care practitioners should pay greater attention to delivering optimal patient experiences alongside clinical management of the disease as this may contribute towards remission of Type 2 diabetes. Further work is needed to examine which aspects of the primary care experience might be optimized and how these could be operationalized.
Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions for promoting physical activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Physical inactivity is a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases, and there is a need for interventions to increase the adoption and maintenance of regular physical activity. Interventions based on Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) have shown promise for promoting a range of health behaviours, including physical activity. The aims of this review were to (1) determine the effectiveness of ACT interventions for physical activity; and (2) identify the ACT processes, behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and intervention characteristics associated with ACT interventions. Eight electronic databases were searched for ACT interventions that aimed to increase physical activity. Seven eligible studies were included in the systematic review, and ACT processes, Behaviour Change Techniques and other intervention components and characteristics of the included interventions were coded. Six studies were randomised controlled trials that were included in a random-effects meta-analysis, which indicated small-to-moderate effects on physical activity (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI (0.07, 0.57), p = 0.01). ACT interventions show promise for increasing physical activity, but very few of the ‘active ingredients’ of ACT interventions could be characterised as BCTs. Future development of ACT interventions for physical activity should attempt to describe and name the ACT processes targeted by the intervention, and the BCTs used to target those processes
Does cranberry extract reduce antibiotic use for symptoms of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections (CUTI)? Protocol for a feasibility study
Background: Consultations in primary care for symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common and patients are frequently treated with antibiotics. Given increasing antimicrobial resistance, there has been interest in non-antibiotic treatment options for common infections. One such option is the use of cranberry extract to treat symptoms attributable to UTIs. Methods: A target of 45 women consulting in primary care, with symptoms suggestive of an uncomplicated UTI for whom the practitioner would normally prescribe antibiotics, will be randomised to receive one of three treatment approaches: (1) immediate prescription for antibiotics; (2) immediate prescription for antibiotics plus a 7-day course of cranberry capsules and (3) cranberry capsules plus a delayed prescription for antibiotics to be used in case their symptoms do not get better, or get worse. Follow-up will be by daily rating of symptoms and recording of treatments used for 2 weeks in an online symptom diary. Interviews will be conducted with around 10–15 study participants, as well as with around 10–15 women who have experienced a UTI but have not been approached to take part in the study. Both groups will be asked about their experience of having a UTI, their thoughts on non-antibiotic treatments for UTIs and their thoughts on, or experience of, the feasibility trial. The primary objective is to assess the feasibility of undertaking a full trial in primary care of the effectiveness of cranberry extract to reduce antibiotic use for symptoms of acute uncomplicated UTI. The secondary objective is to conduct a preliminary assessment of the extent to which cranberry might reduce antibiotic use and symptom burden. Discussion: This feasibility study with embedded interviews will inform the planning and sample size calculation of an adequately powered trial to definitively determine whether cranberry helps to alleviate the symptoms of acute uncomplicated UTIs in women and whether it can safely reduce antibiotic use.
How we learnt to stop worrying and love web scraping
Career Column: For Nicholas DeVito, Georgia Richards and Peter Inglesby, custom webscrapers have driven their research — and their collaborations. In research, time and resources are precious. Automating common tasks, such as data collection, can make a project efficient and repeatable, leading in turn to increased productivity and output. You will end up with a shareble and reproducible method for data collection that can be verified, used and expanded on by others — in other words, a computationally reproducible data-collection workflow. In a current project, we are analysing coroners’ reports to help to prevent future deaths. It has required downloading more than 3,000 PDFs to search for opioid-related deaths, a huge data-collection task. In discussion with the larger team, we decided that this task was a good candidate for automation. With a few days of work, we were able to write a computer program that could quickly, efficiently and reproducibly collect all the PDFs and create a spreadsheet that documented each case.
Impact of a national primary care pay-for-performance scheme on ambulatory care sensitive hospital admissions: a small-area analysis in England
Objective: We aimed to spatially describe hospital admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) in England at small-area geographical level and assess whether recorded practice performance under one of the world’s largest primary care pay-for-performance schemes led to reductions in these potentially avoidable hospitalisations for chronic conditions incentivised in the scheme. Setting: We obtained numbers of ACSC hospital admissions from the Hospital Episode Statistics database and information on recorded practice performance from the Quality and Outcomes: Framework (QOF) administrative dataset for 2015/2016. We fitted three sets of negative binomial models to examine ecological associations between incentivised ACSC admissions, general practice performance, deprivation, urbanity and other sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Hospital admissions for QOF incentivised ACSCs varied within and between regions, with clusters of high numbers of hospital admissions for incentivised ACSCs identified across England. Our models indicated a very small effect of the QOF on reducing admissions for incentivised ACSCs (0.993, 95% CI 0.990 to 0.995), however, other factors, such as deprivation (1.021, 95% CI 1.020 to 1.021) and urbanicity (0.875, 95% CI 0.862 to 0.887), were far more important in explaining variations in admissions for ACSCs. People in deprived areas had a higher risk of being admitted in hospital for an incentivised ACSC condition. Conclusion: Spatial analysis based on routinely collected data can be used to identify areas with high rates of potentially avoidable hospital admissions, providing valuable information for targeting resources and evaluating public health interventions. Our findings suggest that the QOF had a very small effect on reducing avoidable hospitalisation for incentivised conditions. Material deprivation and urbanicity were the strongest predictors of the variation in ACSC rates for all QOF incentivised conditions across England.
GPs’ decisions about prescribing end-of-life anticipatory medications: a qualitative study
Background: GPs have a central role in decisions about prescribing anticipatory medications to help control symptoms at the end of life. Little is known about GPs’ decision-making processes in prescribing anticipatory medications, how they discuss this with patients and families, or the subsequent use of prescribed drugs. Aim: To explore GPs’ decision-making processes in the prescribing and use of anticipatory medications for patients at the end of life. Design and setting: A qualitative interview study with GPs working in one English county. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 13 GPs. Interview transcripts were analysed inductively using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were constructed from the data: something we can do, getting the timing right, and delegating care while retaining responsibility. Anticipatory medications were a tangible intervention GPs felt they could offer patients approaching death (something we can do). The prescribing of anticipatory medications was recognised as a harbinger of death for patients and their families. Nevertheless, GPs preferred to discuss and prescribe anticipatory medications weeks before death was expected whenever possible (getting the timing right). After prescribing medications, GPs relied on nurses to assess when to administer drugs and keep them updated about their use (delegating care while retaining responsibility). Conclusion: GPs view anticipatory medications as key to symptom management for patients at the end of life. The drugs are often presented as a clinical recommendation to ensure patients and families accept the prescription. GPs need regular access to nurses and rely on their skills to administer drugs appropriately. Patients’ and families’ experiences of anticipatory medications, and their preferences for involvement in decision making, warrant urgent investigation.
The content and conduct of GP consultations for dermatology problems: a cross-sectional study
Background: Skin complaints are common in primary care, and poor outcomes in long-term conditions are often due to low adherence to treatment. Shared decision making and self-management support may help, yet there is little understanding of patient involvement or the support provided by GPs. Aim: To describe the content of primary care consultations for skin problems, including shared decision making practice, delivery of self-management advice, and follow-up. Design and setting: Cross-sectional study of video-recorded UK adult GP consultations and linked data. Method: A coding tool was developed and applied to all consultations with skin problems. Shared decision making was assessed using the observer OPTION5 scale. Results: A total of 45/318 consultations (14.2%) related to one or more skin problems, which were discussed alongside other problems in 71.1% (32/45) of consultations. Of the 100 different problems discussed in these consultations, 51 were dermatological. The mean amount of time spent on skin problems in the consultations was 4 minutes 16 seconds. Medication was recommended for 66.7% (34/51) of skin problems, with low shared decision making (mean OPTION5 score = 10.7). Self-management advice (verbal only) was given for 47.1% (24/51) of skin problems. Most skin problems (84.3%; 43/51) were not referred to secondary care; 32.6% (14/43) of the skin problems not referred were seen again in primary care within 12 weeks, of which 35.7% (5/14) follow-up appointments were not planned. Conclusion: In this study, skin problems were usually presented alongside other complaints and resulted in a medication recommendation. Shared decision making was uncommon and self-management advice not consistently given, with re-attendance for the same problem common. GPs’ training should reflect how frequently skin problems are seen and seek to improve patient involvement in decision making and support self-management.
Predicting major adverse cardiovascular events for secondary prevention: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk prediction models.
Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. With advances in early diagnosis and treatment of CVD and increasing life expectancy, more people are surviving initial CVD events. However, models for stratifying disease severity risk in patients with established CVD for effective secondary prevention strategies are inadequate. Multivariable prognostic models to stratify CVD risk may allow personalised treatment interventions. This review aims to systematically review the existing multivariable prognostic models for the recurrence of CVD or major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established CVD diagnosis. Methods and analysis Bibliographic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Web of Science) will be searched, from database inception to April 2020, using terms relating to the clinical area and prognosis. A hand search of the reference lists of included studies will also be done to identify additional published studies. No restrictions on language of publications will be applied. Eligible studies present multivariable models (derived or validated) of adults (aged 16 years and over) with an established diagnosis of CVD, reporting at least one of the components of the primary outcome of major adverse cardiovascular events (defined as either coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease, heart failure or CVD-related mortality). Reviewing will be done by two reviewers independently using the pre-defined criteria. Data will be extracted for included full-text articles. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Prediction model study Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool (PROBAST). Prognostic models will be summarised narratively. If a model is tested in multiple validation studies, the predictive performance will be summarised using a random-effects meta-analysis model to account for any between-study heterogeneity. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval is not required. The results of this study will be submitted to relevant conferences for presentation and a peer-reviewed journal for publication.
Self-management interventions to reduce healthcare use and improve quality of life among patients with asthma: systematic review and network meta-analysis
Objective: To compare the different self-management models (multidisciplinary case management, regularly supported self-management, and minimally supported self-management) and self-monitoring models against usual care and education to determine which are most effective at reducing healthcare use and improving quality of life in asthma. Design: Systematic review and network meta-analysis. Data sources: Medline, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EconLit, Embase, Health Economics Evaluations Database, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, PsycINFO, and ClinicalTrials.gov from January 2000 to April 2019. Review methods: Randomised controlled trials involving the different self-management models for asthma were included. The primary outcomes were healthcare use (hospital admission or emergency visit) and quality of life. Summary standardised mean differences (SMDs) and 95% credible intervals were estimated using bayesian network meta-analysis with random effects. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Results: From 1178 citations, 105 trials comprising 27 767 participants were included. In terms of healthcare use, both multidisciplinary case management (SMD –0.18, 95% credible interval −0.32 to −0.05) and regularly supported self-management (–0.30, −0.46 to −0.15) were significantly better than usual care. For quality of life, only regularly supported self-management (SMD 0.54, 0.11 to 0.96) showed a statistically significant benefit compared with usual care. For trials including adolescents/children (age 5-18 years), only regularly supported self-management showed statistically significant benefits (healthcare use: SMD –0.21, −0.40 to −0.03; quality of life: 0.23, 0.03 to 0.48). Multidisciplinary case management (SMD –0.32, −0.50 to −0.16) and regularly supported self-management (–0.32, −0.53 to −0.11) were most effective at reducing healthcare use in patients with symptoms of severe asthma at baseline. Conclusions: This network meta-analysis indicates that regularly supported self-management reduces the use of healthcare resources and improves quality of life across all levels of asthma severity. Future healthcare investments should provide support that offer reviews totalling at least two hours to establish self-management skills, reserving multidisciplinary case management for patients with complex disease.
Associations of the systolic and diastolic components of orthostatic hypotension with markers of cardiovascular risk in older men: A cross‐sectional analysis from The British Regional Heart Study
The mechanisms underlying the association between orthostatic hypotension (OH) and cardiovascular disease are unclear. We investigated whether OH is associated with circulating cardiovascular risk markers. This was a cross‐sectional analysis of 3857 older, community‐dwelling men. “Consensus OH” was defined as a sitting‐to‐standing decrease in systolic blood pressure ≥20 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥10 mm Hg that occurred within three minutes of standing. Multiple generalized linear regression and logistic models were used to examine the association between cardiovascular risk markers and OH. Consensus OH was present in 20.2%, consisting of isolated systolic OH in 12.6%, isolated diastolic OH in 4.6%, and combined systolic and diastolic OH in 3.0%. Concentration of von Willebrand factor, a marker of endothelial dysfunction, was positively associated with isolated systolic OH (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05‐1.73) and combined systolic and diastolic OH (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.35‐3.83); high circulating phosphate concentration, which may reflect vascular calcification, was associated with isolated diastolic OH (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.04‐2.25) and combined systolic and diastolic OH (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.31‐3.44), high‐sensitivity troponin T, a marker of myocardial injury, was positively associated with isolated diastolic OH (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.07‐2.65) and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide, a marker of cardiac stress, was positively associated with combined systolic and diastolic OH (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.14‐4.03). In conclusion, OH is associated with some cardiovascular risk markers implicated in endothelial dysfunction, vascular calcification, myocardial injury, and cardiac stress. Clinicians should consider assessing cardiovascular risk in patients with OH.
Relational continuity and patients’ perception of GP trust and respect: a qualitative study
Background: Despite the benefits of relational continuity of care, particularly for patients with multimorbidity, the traditional model of continuity is changing. Revisiting what patients with ongoing problems want from relational continuity could encourage initiatives to achieve these within a modern healthcare system. Aim: To examine the attributes of GPs that patients with long-term conditions value most, and which attributes patients believe are facilitated by relational continuity. Design and setting: Qualitative study in UK general practice. Method: A thematic analysis was carried out, based on secondary analysis of interviews with 25 patients with long-term conditions that were originally conducted to inform a patient-reported outcome measure for primary care. Results: Patients with long-term conditions wanted their GPs to be clinically competent, to examine, listen to, care for, and take time with them, irrespective of whether they have seen them before. They believed that relational continuity facilitates a GP knowing their history, giving consistent advice, taking responsibility and action, and trusting and respecting them. Patients acknowledged practical difficulties and safety issues in achieving the first three of these without relational continuity. However, patients felt that GPs should trust and respect them even when continuity was not possible. Conclusion: Policy initiatives promoting continuity with a GP or healthcare team should continue. Many patients see continuity as a safety issue. When patients experience relationship discontinuity, they often feel that they are not taken seriously or believed by their GP. GPs should therefore consistently seek to visibly demonstrate trust in their patients, particularly when they have not seen them before.
Longitudinal clusters of pain and stiffness in polymyalgia rheumatica: 2-year results from the PMR Cohort Study
Objectives: To investigate potential subgroups of primary care–diagnosed patients with PMR based on self-reported pain and stiffness severity over time. Methods: A total of 652 people with an incident PMR diagnosis were recruited from English general practices and completed a baseline postal questionnaire. They were followed up with a further six questionnaires over a 2 year period. A total of 446 people completed the 2 year follow-up. Pain and stiffness were reported on a 0–10 numerical rating scale. Latent class growth analysis was used to estimate the joint trajectories of pain and stiffness over time. A combination of statistical and clinical considerations was used to choose the number of clusters. Characteristics of the classes were described. Results: Five clusters were identified. One cluster represented the profile of ‘classical’ PMR symptoms and one represented sustained symptoms that may not be PMR. The other three clusters displayed a partial recovery, a recovery followed by worsening and a slow, but sustained recovery. Those displaying classical PMR symptoms were in better overall health at diagnosis than the other groups. Conclusion: PMR is a heterogeneous condition, with a number of phenotypes. The spectrum of presentation, as well as varying responses to treatment, may be related to underlying health status at diagnosis. Future research should seek to stratify patients at diagnosis to identify those likely to have a poor recovery and in need of an alternative treatment pathway. Clinicians should be aware of the different experiences of patients and monitor symptoms closely, even where there is initial improvement.
Should zinc be used for COVID-19 prophylaxis or treatment? A rapid review [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]
Background: There have been intensive efforts worldwide to establish effective treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with recent interest in the use of zinc as a potential therapeutic agent. The aim of this rapid review was therefore to critically appraise and evaluate the evidence for using zinc as prophylaxis and/or treatment for COVID-19. Methods: We conducted electronic searches on 20th and 21st May 2020 of PubMed, TRIP, EPPI COVID Living Map, MedRxiv, Google Scholar and Google. All searches were updated on 11th July 2020 to check for new relevant studies. We included in vivo studies assessing the safety and effectiveness of zinc, alone or combined with other interventions, as treatment or prophylaxis for COVID-19. Studies assessing the activity of zinc against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro were also included. Results: We identified one observational study with a high risk of bias that was suitable for inclusion. The study authors found that treatment with a combination of zinc, azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 resulted in increased odds of being discharged home (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.53; 95% CI 1.12 to 2.09; p = 0.008) and reduced odds of death or being transferred to a hospice (adjusted OR 0.559; 95% CI 0.385 to 0.811; p = 0.002), compared with treatment with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. Conclusions: We identified extremely limited evidence from a study with methodological problems of an association between improvement in certain outcomes when COVID-19 patients are treated with a combination of zinc, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, compared with treatment with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. The results of randomised clinical trials in this area should provide robust evidence of the effectiveness of zinc as treatment/prophylaxis for COVID-19.
Identifying and managing care for children with autism spectrum disorders in general practice: A systematic review and narrative synthesis
Many healthcare systems are organised such that General Practitioners (GPs) often have a key role in identifying autism spectrum disorders (hereafter collectively referred to as autism) in children. In this review, we explored what GPs know about autism and the factors that influence their ability to identify and manage care for their patients with autism in practice. We conducted a systematic narrative review using eight electronic databases. These included Embase and MEDLINE via Ovid, Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO via Ebscohost, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis, and Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) via ProQuest. Our search yielded 2,743 citations. Primary research studies were included, and we did not impose any geographical, language or date restrictions. We identified 17 studies that met our inclusion criteria. Studies included in the review were conducted between 2003 and 2019. We thematically synthesised the material and identified the following themes: the prototypical image of a child with autism; experience, sources of information, and managing care; barriers to identification; strategies to aid in identification; and characteristics that facilitate expertise . Together, the findings from this review present a mixed picture of GP knowledge and experiences in identifying autism and managing care for children with the condition. At one end of the continuum, there were GPs who had not heard of autism or endorsed outmoded aetiological theories. Others, however, demonstrated a sound knowledge of the conditions but had limited confidence in their ability to identify the condition. Many GPs and researchers alike called for more training and this might be effective. However, framing the problem as one of a lack of training risks silences the array of organisational factors that impact on a GP's ability to provide care for these patients.
Factors associated with the prescribing of high-dose opioids in primary care: a systematic review and meta-analysis
The risks of harms from opioids increase substantially at high doses, and high-dose prescribing has increased in primary care. However, little is known about what leads to high-dose prescribing, and studies exploring this have not been synthesized. We, therefore, systematically synthesized factors associated with the prescribing of high-dose opioids in primary care. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of observational studies in high-income countries that used patient-level primary care data and explored any factor(s) in people for whom opioids were prescribed, stratified by oral morphine equivalents (OME). We defined high doses as ≥ 90 OME mg/day. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, reference lists, forward citations, and conference proceedings from database inception to 5 April 2019. Two investigators independently screened studies, extracted data, and appraised the quality of included studies using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. We pooled data on factors using random effects meta-analyses and reported relative risks (RR) or mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CI) where appropriate. We also performed a number needed to harm (NNTH) calculation on factors when applicable. Results: We included six studies with a total of 4,248,119 participants taking opioids, of whom 3.64% (n = 154,749) were taking high doses. The majority of included studies (n = 4) were conducted in the USA, one in Australia and one in the UK. The largest study (n = 4,046,275) was from the USA. Included studies were graded as having fair to good quality evidence. The co-prescription of benzodiazepines (RR 3.27, 95% CI 1.32 to 8.13, I2 = 99.9%), depression (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.51, I2 = 0%), emergency department visits (RR 1.53, 95% CI 1.46 to 1.61, I2 = 0%, NNTH 15, 95% CI 12 to 20), unemployment (RR 1.44, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.63, I2 = 0%), and male gender (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.28, I2 = 78.6%) were significantly associated with the prescribing of high-dose opioids in primary care. Conclusions: High doses of opioids are associated with greater risks of harms. Associated factors such as the co-prescription of benzodiazepines and depression identify priority areas that should be considered when selecting, identifying, and managing people taking high-dose opioids in primary care. Coordinated strategies and services that promote the safe prescribing of opioids are needed.
Research priorities in advanced heart failure: James Lind alliance priority setting partnership
Objective: To determine research priorities in advanced heart failure (HF) for patients, carers and healthcare professionals. Methods: Priority setting partnership using the systematic James Lind Alliance method for ranking and setting research priorities. An initial open survey of patients, carers and healthcare professionals identified respondents’ questions, which were categorised to produce a list of summary research questions; questions already answered in existing literature were removed. In a second survey of patients, carers and healthcare professionals, respondents ranked the summary research questions in order of priority. The top 25 unanswered research priorities were then considered at a face-to-face workshop using nominal group technique to agree on a ‘top 10’. Results: 192 respondents submitted 489 responses each containing one or more research uncertainty. Out-of-scope questions (35) were removed, and collating the responses produced 80 summary questions. Questions already answered in the literature (15) were removed. In the second survey, 65 questions were ranked by 128 respondents. The top 10 priorities were developed at a consensus meeting of stakeholders and included a focus on quality of life, psychological support, the impact on carers, role of the charity sector and managing prognostic uncertainty. Ranked priorities by physicians and patients were remarkably divergent. Conclusions: Engaging stakeholders in setting research priorities led to a novel set of research questions that might not have otherwise been considered. These priorities can be used by researchers and funders to direct future research towards the areas which matter most to people living with advanced HF.
Editorial: Context, context, context: how has covid-19 changed implementation globally and how can we ‘lock in’ learning?
In our recent editorial [1] we discussed the importance of knowledge mobilization (KM; defined as ‘a proactive process that involves efforts to transform practice through the circulation of knowledge within and across practice domains’ [2]) to the implementation of best practice to drive up the quality of care for patients. We acknowledged the role and importance of recognizing real-world context, providing examples of individual, organizational and national contextual factors that influence KM. Since the publication of that editorial, the context of healthcare both nationally and internationally has changed substantially. The covid-19 pandemic has, and will continue to have, a significant impact on KM and the design and delivery of healthcare services. The commonly cited conclusion in KM is that ‘context is everything’, and we would like to add to this discussion and build upon our previous editorial in light of the covid-19 situation. This piece explores the impact of covid-19 on KM, in the context of musculoskeletal services, and the ways in which organizations can ‘lock in’ learning, after arguably the biggest challenge that healthcare services have ever experienced.
Anticipatory prescribing in community end-of-life care in the UK and Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic: online survey
Background: Anticipatory prescribing (AP) of injectable medications in advance of clinical need is established practice in community end-of-life care. Changes to prescribing guidelines and practice have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims and objectives: To investigate UK and Ireland clinicians’ experiences concerning changes in AP during the COVID-19 pandemic and their recommendations for change. Methods: Online survey of participants at previous AP national workshops, members of the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland and other professional organisations, with snowball sampling. Results: Two hundred and sixty-one replies were received between 9 and 19 April 2020 from clinicians in community, hospice and hospital settings across all areas of the UK and Ireland. Changes to AP local guidance and practice were reported: route of administration (47%), drugs prescribed (38%), total quantities prescribed (35%), doses and ranges (29%). Concerns over shortages of nurses and doctors to administer subcutaneous injections led 37% to consider drug administration by family or social caregivers, often by buccal, sublingual and transdermal routes. Clinical contact and patient assessment were more often remote via telephone or video (63%). Recommendations for regulatory changes to permit drug repurposing and easier community access were made. Conclusions: The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic for UK community palliative care has stimulated rapid innovation in AP. The extent to which these are implemented and their clinical efficacy need further examination.
Arriving or departing: Primary Care Annual Scientific Meeting
From 3–5 July we attended the Society of Academic Primary Care (SAPC)’s annual scientific meeting (ASM), held at the University of Exeter. SAPC aims to advance primary care through education and research, and their stated goal is ‘to promote understanding of primary care - what it is and why it matters, and why academic primary care is an essential component of strong primary care’. This year’s conference theme was ‘Primary Care: Arriving? Or Departing?’ We are all aware of the challenges facing primary care, with changing socio-demographic population profiles, increased demand, decreased funding and challenges recruiting and retaining a dynamic, motivated workforce. As such, high-quality research is needed to provide evidence to address these challenges and shape the future of primary care. The conference programme reflected this issue, covering a range of research informing the design and delivery of high-quality clinical care as well as addressing organisational and behavioural aspects of primary care service development and delivery. The conference was opened in style by Ukrainian-born international opera singer Irtna Ilnytska, administration assistant at the University of Exeter and graduate of the Academy of Music, Milan; a reminder of how the UK benefits from the diverse talents of international workers. The conference included 128 oral presentations, specialist interest group meetings (https://sapc.ac.uk/special-interest-groups) and workshops, allowing attendees to personalise a programme most relevant for them.
Impact of emergency hospital admissions on patterns of primary care prescribing: a retrospective cohort analysis of electronic records in England
Background: Little is known about the impact of hospitalisation on prescribing in UK clinical practice. Aim: To investigate whether an emergency hospital admission drives increases in polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs). Design and setting: A retrospective cohort analysis set in primary and secondary care in England. Method: Changes in number of prescriptions and PIPs following an emergency hospital admission in 2014 (at admission and 4 weeks post-discharge), and 6 months post-discharge were calculated among 37 761 adult patients. Regression models were used to investigate changes in prescribing following an admission. Results: Emergency attendees surviving 6 months (N = 32 657) had a mean of 4.4 (standard deviation [SD] = 4.6) prescriptions before admission, and a mean of 4.7 (SD = 4.7; P<0.001) 4 weeks after discharge. Small increases (<0.5) in the number of prescriptions at 4 weeks were observed across most hospital specialties, except for surgery (−0.02; SD = 0.65) and cardiology (2.1; SD = 2.6). The amount of PIPs increased after hospitalisation; 4.0% of patients had ≥1 PIP immediately before pre-admission, increasing to 8.0% 4 weeks post-discharge. Across hospital specialties, increases in the proportion of patients with a PIP ranged from 2.1% in obstetrics and gynaecology to 8.0% in cardiology. Patients were, on average, prescribed fewer medicines at 6 months compared with 4 weeks post-discharge (mean = 4.1; SD = 4.6; P<0.001). PIPs decreased to 5.4% (n = 1751) of patients. Conclusion: Perceptions that hospitalisation is a consistent factor driving rises in polypharmacy are unfounded. Increases in prescribing post-hospitalisation reflect appropriate clinical response to acute illness, whereas decreases are more likely in patients who are multimorbid, reflecting a focus on deprescribing and medicines optimisation in these individuals. Increases in PIPs remain a concern.
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Oxford researchers have launched a new partnership to tackle UK healthcare workforce challenges, leveraging SPCR funding.
Primary care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) Impact Report Published
28 April 2025
The Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) has published its Summary & Impact Report 2019–2024, highlighting five years of collaborative research achievements supported by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR).