The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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The misuse of pregabalin has been the subject of increasing concerns for several years. The effects sought are multiple and it is rarely taken as a single drug. The most frequent association is with opioids, which may increase the risk of fatal overdose. ⋯ This study has highlighted a rarely documented profile of pregabalin misuse: self-medication among a group of new immigrants, most of whom have no previous history of opioid-related disorders. Measures should be taken to improve access to health and social care for this population, considering all their biopsychosocial vulnerabilities.
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A range of measures to improve service delivery have been introduced among persisting concerns about staff shortages in general practice. Innovations include practice networks, multidisciplinary roles, and use of digital technologies. Yet challenges remain that affect both patient care delivery and staff. Therefore, identifying what matters from a workforce perspective will help identify what matters to those delivering services. ⋯ The top 10 service delivery priorities require future policy solutions that are holistic and address underlying causes. Future research needs to explore interdependencies across the patient-workforce-service delivery nexus.
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General practice experienced significant challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been little exploration of the experiences of nurses working in general practice and the impact on care delivery, job satisfaction, workload, stress and professional support. Understanding these experiences can inform future practice. ⋯ The pandemic has laid bare challenges faced by nurses in general practice. Nurses require specific support to maintain professional wellbeing and to aid retention.