Family practice
-
Use of medical cannabis (MC) in Israel has increased since its regulatory approval in 2016. Currently, more than 1% of Israeli adults are treated with MC; this requires primary care physicians (PCPs) to be familiar with this treatment option. ⋯ Our survey revealed PCPs' differing opinions and insufficient knowledge regarding treatment with MC. These findings suggest that continuing medical education regarding MC is needed.
-
Out-of-hours primary care for people with intellectual disabilities: interviews in general practice.
Out-of-hours primary care for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) involves different groups of health care professionals, who are often not familiar to one another nor to the specific health care needs of this vulnerable population. It is not known to what extend these specific health care needs or organizational factors influence the delivery of out-of-hours primary care for people with ID. ⋯ Health care professionals involved in out-of-hours primary care for people with ID indicate that the quality of this care is more influenced by the organizational context than by the medical content. We recommend out-of-hours GP services and care provider services for people with ID to set standards for roles and responsibilities in order to facilitate health care professionals in delivering accessible and high-quality care to this vulnerable population.
-
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a largely undetected occurrence in the United States reported by 36-50% of women in their lifetime and associated with extensive physical and psychological implications. Currently, conflicting recommendations exist regarding screening practices with the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) advocating for and against universal screening, respectively. With research suggesting that women are seldom asked about IPV during clinic visits, further information is needed regarding current screening practices. ⋯ Findings of both low screening rates and low screening success raise significant concerns for the shortcomings of advocating for universal IPV screening. Therefore, additional studies are necessary to identify covert barriers to screening completion before universal inquiry is advised.
-
The Case-finding for Complex Chronic Conditions in Adults 75+ (C5-75) involves annual frailty screening in primary care using dual-trait screening measures of handgrip strength and gait speed, with additional screening for co-existing conditions in those deemed frail. ⋯ Our results demonstrate that 60% patients are at low risk (<1%) of transitioning to frailty by the next annual assessment. Reducing screening frequency from annually to every 2 years may be appropriate for these patients.
-
Although nocturnal leg cramps are common, little research is available about their impact on quality of life. This mixed-methods study explored the impact of nocturnal leg cramps on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). ⋯ Some patients describe a specific impact of cramps on their lives, regardless of their HRQoL. These patients should be the target of future intervention trials.