Articles: primary-care.
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People from ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, less likely to access primary health care, and have reported dissatisfaction with health care. Although the prevalence of long COVID in ethnic minority groups is unclear, such populations are underrepresented in long-COVID specialist clinics and long-COVID lived-experience research, which informed the original long-COVID healthcare guidelines. ⋯ Empathy, validation of experiences, and fairness in recognition and support of healthcare needs are required to restore trust in health care and improve the experiences of people with long COVID.
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Severe mental illness (SMI) has been associated with reduced bone density and increased risk of fractures, although some studies have shown inconsistent results. ⋯ SMI is associated with an increased likelihood of fragility fractures and osteoporosis underdiagnosis. Interventions should be considered to mitigate the increased risk of fractures in people with SMI.
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Adults with learning disability face multiple adversities, but evidence on their needs and primary care experiences is limited. ⋯ Adults reporting a learning disability had a higher likelihood of chronic health conditions. Their reported experiences of primary care indicate that, despite recent initiatives to improve services offered, further adaptations to the consistency and ease of access to primary care is needed.
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Barriers to accessing and using primary care services among minoritised ethnic communities have been extensively evidenced in the UK. However, the impact of the rapid digitalisation of these services on these communities remains under-researched. ⋯ The rapid digitalisation of primary care services is replicating and potentially exacerbating barriers to using these services among minoritised ethnic communities, a finding that merits urgent attention by practitioners and policymakers.
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Early detection could reduce the duration of untreated psychosis. GPs are a vital part of the psychosis care pathway, but find it difficult to detect the early features. An accurate risk prediction tool, P Risk, was developed to detect these. ⋯ Further testing is required, but P Risk has the potential to be used in primary care to detect future risk of psychosis.