Family practice
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Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common treatable and potentially curable cause of secondary hypertension. Prompt diagnosis and management by primary care physicians (PCPs) is important given the increased risk of cardiovascular complications however screening rates are low in primary care. Our aim was to identify factors that influence screening behaviour for PA among PCPs. ⋯ Low awareness, inadequate guidelines, and poor access to testing were identified as key barriers to PA screening. Targeted education sessions for PCPs, clear guidelines, and closer proximity to diagnostic centres may be required to improve PA detection in primary care.
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Inclusion of patients in healthcare service and system planning is an increasingly important tool to improve healthcare systems worldwide. In 2012, a focused healthcare reform was initiated in Austria to strengthen the primary care sector which is still underway in 2023. ⋯ Appreciating and responding to patients' perceptions and needs, healthcare reform in Austria should include improvements regarding consultation/waiting time, coordination, and navigation in Primary Care. Successful healthcare reform has to include the patient voice.
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Many patients may be tempted to use non-pharmacological home remedies (NPHRs) to relieve various complaints. To the best of our knowledge, there is little data on the characteristics of patients using NPHRs. In this cross-sectional study carried out between March 2020 and July 2021, we examined the socio-demographic factors underlying their use in patient populations in Switzerland and France. ⋯ Many patients, particularly women, young people, and French patients, reported using NPHRs. This survey's findings hold the potential to inform healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers about the diverse preferences that shape patients' healthcare choices.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Topical or oral antibiotics in childhood acute otitis media and ear discharge: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.
Current guidance suggests oral antibiotics can be considered for children with acute otitis media (AOM) and ear discharge, but there is an absence of evidence regarding the relative effectiveness of antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops. ⋯ Early termination stopped us from determining non-inferiority of antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops. Our limited data, requiring confirmation, suggest that oral antibiotics may be more effective than antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops in resolving symptoms and shortening the duration of ear discharge.
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Multicenter Study
MACCABI-RED, community emergency care at the press of a button: a descriptive study.
Maccabi-RED is a new service developed in Israel that allows primary care staff to direct urgent cases to specialists in the community for evaluation in their local clinics on the same day as an alternative to an emergency department (ED) visit. A primary care physician or a nurse can activate the service, and all nearby specialists receive "a call" and can decide if they are willing to accept it, thus allowing the patient to avoid an unnecessary visit to the ED. ⋯ Maccabi-RED is being widely used by patients nationwide. Additional studies are needed to investigate whether Maccabi-RED reduces emergency department visits and costs.