Family practice
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Conflicting international guidelines exist on the management of sore throat by antibiotics. ⋯ Major discrepancies emphasise the need for only high-quality guidelines, based on adequately assessed evidence. Restricted antibiotic prescriptions to severe cases or high-risk patients would avoid antibiotic resistance.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Continuity of primary care among homeless adults with mental illness who received a housing and mental health intervention.
Continuity of primary care (CPC) is associated with reduced mortality and improved health status. This study assessed the level of CPC and changes in CPC over 6 years among adults with experience of homelessness and mental illness who received a Housing First intervention. ⋯ Among this group of individuals with mental illness who were experiencing homelessness, CPC remained low over 6 years of follow-up. This study highlights that housing and mental health interventions may need to place greater emphasis on improving CPC using effective strategies that are specifically geared towards this important goal among their clients.
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Integrated care has been proven to be effective among stroke survivors. However, in China, these services mainly focus on connecting the healthcare system (acute, primary medical, and skilled) at the individual level. Closer health and social care integration is a new concept. ⋯ The findings suggest the need to improve the scales of integration and recognize the vital role played by social care services when designing or improving an integrated care for older people with stroke.
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Loneliness is a global issue, and primary care physicians play an important role in assessing and intervening with loneliness. This study aimed to examine the association between having a usual source of care (USC) or a good quality of primary care, and loneliness. ⋯ Having USC and a better quality primary care were associated with a lower loneliness score. The quality of primary care could be a factor to mitigate patient loneliness.
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Comparative Study
Parental experiences and opinions regarding the management of acute otitis media in Finland-a comparative questionnaire between 2006 and 2019.
Treatment guidelines for acute otitis media (AOM) have changed over the past 20 years. Watchful waiting is often recommended as an option for antibiotic treatment and the use of proper pain medication is emphasised. ⋯ Today, more parents accept watchful waiting as a treatment option for AOM and give painkillers to their children, which indicates that the education about optimal management of AOM has reached parents.