The European journal of general practice
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Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory non-communicable disease (NCD) characterised by the destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus (periodontium), including alveolar bone, the presence of periodontal pockets, and bleeding on probing. ⋯ Closer collaboration between OHPs and family doctors is important in the early case detection and management of NCDs like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory diseases. Strategies for early case detection/prevention of NCDs, including periodontitis, should be developed for family doctors, other health professionals (OHPs), and healthcare funders. Evidence-based information on the reported associations between periodontitis and other NCDs should be made available to family doctors, OHPs, healthcare funders, patients, and the general population.
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To better manage patients with a wide range of mental health problems, general practitioners would benefit from diagnostically accurate and time-efficient screening tools that comprehensively assess mental illness. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to identify screening tools that either take a multiple-mental disorder or a transdiagnostic approach. As primary and secondary outcomes, diagnostic accuracy and time efficiency were investigated. ⋯ The eleven identified screening tools can support general practitioners to identify patients with mental health problems. However, there was great heterogeneity concerning their diagnostic scope of psychopathology. Further screening tools for primary care are needed that target broad constructs of mental illness, such as transdiagnostic factors or personality dysfunction.
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Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) people face barriers to primary care, which remains the main entry point for accessing gender-affirming healthcare in the UK. ⋯ This review demonstrates TNB people's mixed experiences of primary care alongside their recommendations for service improvement. This is the first systematically reviewed evidence on the topic, emphasising the need for clinicians and policymakers to centre the voices of the TNB community in service design and improvement.
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Task shifting from general practitioners (GPs) to other health professionals could solve the increased workload, but an overview of the evidence is lacking for out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC). ⋯ The level of safety and efficiency of care provided by other health professionals in OOH-PC seems like that of GPs, although they mainly see patients presenting with less urgent and less complex health problems.
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Review Case Reports
Navigating sarcoidosis: Recognizing, managing, and supporting patients in primary care.
Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystem inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology, characterised by noncaseating granulomas and a variable clinical presentation. Despite its global distribution, sarcoidosis is relatively rare, with the highest prevalence in northern Europe. This poses challenges for primary care physicians due to its broad spectrum of symptoms, from organ-specific manifestations to general complaints like fatigue and concentration difficulties. ⋯ Primary care physicians play a critical role in managing sarcoidosis, particularly in early recognition and monitoring. Given the absence of standardised treatment protocols, a flexible, holistic approach that includes psychosocial support is essential. This article provides a practical framework for general practitioners to address the challenges of sarcoidosis management and improve patient outcomes.