The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Doctors' organisations in the UK have reported worrying levels of work-related stress and burnout in the GP workforce for some time, and the COVID-19 pandemic has presented clear new challenges. ⋯ This review of international evidence demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected GPs' wellbeing around the world. Further research could explore gender and age differences, identifying interventions targeted to these groups.
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Long-term opioid treatment in patients with chronic pain is often ineffective and possibly harmful. These patients are often managed by GPs who are calling for a clear overview of effective opioid reduction strategies for primary care. ⋯ Results carefully point in the direction of a GP supervised tapering and multidisciplinary group therapeutic sessions to reduce long-term opioid treatment. However, because of high risk of bias and small sample sizes, no firm conclusions can be made demonstrating the need for more high-quality research.
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There is an increasing demand for mental health support in primary care, especially for young people. To improve mental health support for young people in general practice, the needs of young people must be considered. ⋯ Young people need a trusting relationship to discuss sensitive issues. To enable high-quality and effective mental health consultations with young people and the development of trust, GPs require unhurried consultations and the ability to maintain continuity of care.
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People with physical-mental comorbidity have a poorer quality of life, worse clinical outcomes, and increased mortality compared with people with physical conditions alone. People of South Asian (SA) origin are the largest minority group in the UK and are more likely to have long-term conditions (LTCs) such as diabetes and heart disease. People of SA origin are less likely to recognise symptoms that may represent mental health problems. ⋯ This review provides a greater understanding of the conceptualisation of emotional distress in the context of LTCs by people of SA origin, to support improvement in its recognition and management.
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Review
Adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health disorders in primary care: a scoping review.
GPs are increasingly confronted with patients with both intellectual disabilities (ID) and mental health disorders (MHD). Currently, the care provided to these patients is found to be insufficient, putting them at risk of developing more severe MHD. Improving the quality of GP care will improve the whole of mental health care for this patient group. Therefore, an overview of the content and quality of care provided to them by the GP may be helpful. ⋯ The improvement required in the current quality of GP care to patients with ID and MHD can be achieved by bridging the identified gaps and initiating close collaborations between care professionals, policymakers, and organisational managers.