J Am Board Fam Med
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Multicenter Study
Canadian HIV Care Settings as Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs).
For people living with HIV (PLWH) using continuous antiretroviral therapy, HIV is now a complex chronic condition often managed in primary care settings. The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a model to deliver comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated primary care that promotes collaboration between primary and specialist care and allied services. The study assessed how both Canadian primary and specialist HIV care settings align with the PCMH. ⋯ HIV care in Canada is reasonably well aligned with the PCMH, irrespective of structure of settings. We propose the need for improvements in the use of electronic medical records, quality improvement strategies, and integration of mental health services to achieve better care delivery and health outcomes among PLWH in Canada.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Screening for Psychotherapeutic Medication Misuse in Primary Care Patients: Comparing Two Instruments.
Prescription psychotherapeutic medication misuse is a growing problem in the United States, but no method exists to routinely screen for this in primary care. Our study sought to (1) describe the prevalence of prescription psychotherapeutic medication misuse in primary care and the characteristics of patients who misuse and (2) compare 2 screening instruments modified to identify prescription medication misuse in primary care. ⋯ Rates of prescription medication misuse were substantial with both RxCAGE and POMI-e showing promise as screening instruments. Future studies are needed to test prescription medication misuse screening tools in broader populations and pilot interventions for those screening positive.
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The American Diabetes Association recommends annual screenings for prediabetes if the patient meets the suggested requirements. The overall prevalence of prediabetes has decreased from an estimated 86 million adults in 2012 to 84.1 million adults in 2015 in the United States. Along with lifestyle modifications, the use of metformin as a treatment option or in combination has shown a decrease in weight and health care costs. This study was designed to review the prevalence of screening and treatment of prediabetes in the United States by using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, as well as identify any factors associated with screenings and treatment. ⋯ The prevalence of diabetes screening during office visits remained lower than 15% between 2012 and 2015 in the United States. Physicians primarily prescribe lifestyle modifications, including a healthy diet and exercise, with metformin being used in some cases for the prevention of diabetes.
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Physician burnout is an ongoing problem that affects both physician wellbeing and patient care. Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Studies have explored ways to prevent and alleviate burnout. Receiving training in acupuncture may reduce physician burnout. ⋯ Study data show an association between decreased physician depersonalization and acupuncture training, suggesting acupuncture training may be a helpful strategy to reduce family physicians' depersonalization of patients.
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Excessive wait times for specialist care are a significant issue in many countries. Electronic consultation (eConsult) services have demonstrated the ability to improve access to specialist care. In this article, we evaluated the implementation of a successful eConsult service in a new jurisdiction to test its generalizability. ⋯ Adoption of the eConsult service in the South East Local Health Integration Network was successful. The service exceeded all adoption targets, and the number of completed cases demonstrated a consistently upward trend, suggesting continued growth beyond the study's duration. The service's rate of adoption, high levels of satisfaction, and use data similar to other regions all demonstrate eConsult's generalizability.