Family practice
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The aim of the present study was to obtain views from general practices about current and potential improvements to services for patients with suspected lung, large bowel, non-melanoma skin and breast cancer. ⋯ Communication problems between primary and secondary sectors need to be tackled innovatively and the perceived quality variation in services addressed-perhaps by developing local guidelines. Practices would welcome further education about health promotion resources and cancer epidemiology.
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The aim of the present study was to estimate physician job satisfaction at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), the Ministry of Health (SSA) and in the private sector, and to measure the association between these different family medical care organization models. ⋯ The organization model is associated with dissatisfaction in all areas, except in 'the patients'.
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Research evidence suggests that patients' beliefs about medicines influence medicine taking. Therefore, it is important that GPs are able to both identify and take account of such beliefs in the consultation. ⋯ Developing 'common ground' in the consultation will be problematic if GPs are not aware of, and sympathetic towards, the ways in which patients use information from a range of sources to formulate beliefs that then affect their medicine-taking behaviour. GPs should be encouraged to open up their discussions with patients so as to encourage the development of a partnership in which each party is aware of, and respects, the other's point of view.
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While well described and promoted as a useful activity, there remains a paucity of evidence on the process and experience of significant event audit (SEA) in primary care. To date, the most comprehensive evaluation of the process has been produced by comparing SEA with conventional audit. The current study intends to contribute to the debate by examining the attitudes and perceptions of a range of primary care staff who have been involved in the process. ⋯ SEA constitutes a powerful tool, which can contribute to team building, enhanced communication and improved patient care, and represents a vital contributor to the development of clinical governance in primary care. However, its implementation and sustenance require sensitive handling for optimal benefit and to minimize difficulties. Our research has enabled us to propose suggestions to facilitate these processes.