Personalized Preventive Plan in General Medicine

Abstract

Background: In recent years, prevention has become increasingly important in General Medicine (GM) and has become the focus of several debates worldwide. The evolution of the Tunisian society urges to seek a preventive approach then a Specific Preventive Consultation (SPC) became a necessity. Objective: We aimed at determining the output of a SPC within a consultation of GM. Method: A descriptive study was carried out for 9 months (from November 2016 to July 2017) in a primary care at Monastir governorate. A SPC was incorporated into the daily care consultations. An appropriate questionnaire, highlighting cardiovascular, carcinogenic and depressive risk factors, was sent to 313 consultants who agreed and adapted actions have been proposed to them. We have analyzed follow up results for screened participants according to personalized preventive plan (PPP). Results: For 313 participants, 48 (15%) have high cardio vascular risk (HCVR). Obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and alcohol consumption were notified respectively among 30.5%, 19%, 19% and 7% of our population. Familial ATCD of breast cancer was present in 2.2%, anxiety in 32% and depression in 23% of our patients. All screened participants provided with a personalized prevention plan (PPP). Therapeutic education was performed for 140 patients; awareness to a tobacco free environment for 155 and 71 mammography was prescribed for women at risk from which one returned with cancer. Conclusion: SPC has improved the knowledge and practices of patients. It also identified several risk factors and especially breast cancer at an early stage. We concluded that Personalized Preventive Plan can be performed in GM to improve and promote health.