Generalist Doctor Research Articles

Effects of an intervention on adolescents with overweight / obesity

The amount of patients which develop chronic irreversible illness rises as the life expectancy grows among countries. When cancer patients step into final stages of their illness the complexity of questions and situations is evident. Frequently, terminally ill cancer patients choose to use unprescribed therapies at their own risk to alleviate suffering. When a generalist doctor comes across these situations, bioethical questions tend to raise among physician’s minds when assisting the patient and family. In this paper we argue about phosphoethanolamine supplement scenario: the different points of view of regulatory agencies; bioethical considerations; theoretical aspects of the molecule as phospholipid precursor; the biological importance the relation to others systems in different levels; pre-clinical and clinical safety data.

A Realist Evaluation of Theory about Triggers for Doctors Choosing a Generalist or Specialist Medical Career.

There is a lack of theory about what drives choice to be a generalist or specialist doctor, an important issue in many countries for increasing primary/preventative care. We did a realist evaluation to develop a theory to inform what works for whom, when and in what contexts, to yield doctors’ choice to be a generalist or specialist. We interviewed 32 Australian doctors (graduates of a large university medical school) who had decided on a generalist (GP/public health) or specialist (all other specialties) career. They reflected on their personal responses to experiences at different times to stimulate their choice. Theory was refined and confirmed by testing it with 17 additional doctors of various specialties/career stages and by referring to wider literature. Our final theory showed the decision involved multi-level contextual factors intersecting with eight triggers to produce either a specialist or generalist choice. Both clinical and place-based exposures, as well as attributes, skills, norms and status of different fields affected choice. This occurred relative to the interests and expectations of different doctors, including their values for professional, socio-economic and lifestyle rewards, often intersecting with issues like gender and life stage. Applying this theory, it is possible to tailor selection and ongoing exposures to yield more generalists.

Épidémiologie descriptive du risque suicidaire dans le système médical français de médecine générale.

Suicide prevention certainly includes a better knowledge of suicide risk in primary care. A number of international publications have shown interest in assessing this risk, but mostly through specific consultant populations: young patients, old patients, anhedonic, depressive, etc. Our study analyses suicide risk prevalence in patients consulting in general medicine for any somatic or psychiatric reason, their pathology or their age. This cross-sectional study was conducted with adult patients (827 subjects included) who were consulting a French generalist doctor panel randomly selected. They filled a validated self-questionnaire (aRSD) assessing their suicide risk in the 15 preceding days and providing professional and personal data. The totally operable 757 files (483 female; 274 male) show that close to a quarter of consultants (24.3%) presents with a positive suicide risk in the 15 days preceding their consultation and 6.3%, reveal a severe risk (aRSD ≥ 7) with ideas and impulses to commit the act. When the reason to consult is psychiatric, 64.6% of these consultants have aRSD positive. One time out of two, the risk is even severe. This data shows how important the suicide risk prevalence is in general medicine. It confirms the main role played by primary care patricians in acting to prevent suicide risk. This data also shows the contribution represented by a self-questionnaire that would rapidly assess the suicide intent while screening, it.

Development of the Rural Generalist Program Japan: meeting the needs of Japanese rural communities.

There is a worldwide shortage of physicians, which is worse in rural areas, with a large underserved rural and remote population. Most jurisdictions in countries of all income levels report shortages of rural doctors, often exacerbated where primary care is not strong. Japan is not an exception: Japanese specialist-driven approaches in medical education and public health have resulted in disproportionate distribution of medical services in the country. Rural generalism, or rural generalist medicine, is emerging in many jurisdictions as one approach to training and provision of care for rural communities. While there is considerable variation in titles, the format of the training and models of care, the emphasis is on training a generalist doctor capable of meeting community needs. This usually includes development of appropriate skills in primary care, inpatient care, emergency medicine, public health and one or more extended skills. These models are well established in Australia, particularly in Queensland, which has offered a rural generalist program for over a decade. The Rural Generalist Program Japan (RGPJ) has been developed to meet the needs of Japanese rural communities. This article outlines development of the RGPJ using the World Federation for Medical Education standards. While early evaluations are positive, there is much more to do to develop a mature program capable of meeting the needs of Japan's rural and remote communities.

Challenges for gatekeeping: a qualitative systems analysis of a pilot in rural China

BackgroundGatekeeping involves a generalist doctor who controls patients’ access to specialist care, and has been discussed as an important policy option to rebalance the primary care and hospital sectors in low- and middle-income countries, despite thin evidence. A gatekeeping pilot in a Chinese rural setting launched in 2013 has offered an opportunity to study the functioning of gatekeeping under such conditions.MethodsIn this qualitative study within a mixed-method evaluation of the gatekeeping pilot, we developed an innovative systems analysis method, combining the World Health Organisation categorisation of health system building blocks, the “Framework” approach of policy analysis and causal loop analysis. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 stakeholders from 4 groups (patients, doctors, health facility managers and government administrators) in the pilot area over two years. Based on information extracted from the interviews, we drew a causal loop diagram which highlighted the feedback loops within the system that had self-reinforcing or self-balancing characteristics, and used the diagram to examine systematically the mechanisms of intended and actual functioning of gatekeeping and analyse the systems level challenges that affected the effectiveness of gatekeeping.ResultsHad the gatekeeping pilot programme worked as intended, it would incentivize both providers and patients to increase service utilization at primary care level, as well as establish and enhance two reinforcing feedback loops to shift balance towards primary care. However, a performance-based salary policy undermined the motivation for clinical primary care. Furthermore, the primary care providers suffered from three reinforcing feedback loops (related to primary care capacity, human resource sustainability, patients’ faith) that trapped primary care development in vicious cycles. At the interface between hospitals and primary care providers, there were also feedback loops exacerbating the existing hospital dominance. These feedback loops were intensified by the unintended consequences of concurrent policies (restrictions on technologies and medicines) and delayed reform in hospitals. Furthermore, the gatekeeping policy itself faced resistance to further development, due to the prevailing ineffective and ritualistic nature of gatekeeping, which formed a balancing loop.ConclusionsThe study shows that the intended benefits of gatekeeping were illusionary largely due to weak and worsening primary care conditions, and delay, ineffectiveness or unintended consequences of several other ongoing reforms. One particularly dangerous development of the system, which deserves urgent attention, is the harming of the professional prospects of primary care doctors. Our findings highlight the need for coordination and prioritization in designing policies related to primary care and managing changes with multiple on-going reforms. The approach used here facilitates comprehensive study of intended and actual mechanisms, and demonstrates the challenges of a complex health system intervention in a dynamic environment.

Adoption of clinical decision support in multimorbidity: a systematic review.

BackgroundPatients with multiple conditions have complex needs and are increasing in number as populations age. This multimorbidity is one of the greatest challenges facing health care. Having more than 1 condition generates (1) interactions between pathologies, (2) duplication of tests, (3) difficulties in adhering to often conflicting clinical practice guidelines, (4) obstacles in the continuity of care, (5) confusing self-management information, and (6) medication errors. In this context, clinical decision support (CDS) systems need to be able to handle realistic complexity and minimize iatrogenic risks.ObjectiveThe aim of this review was to identify to what extent CDS is adopted in multimorbidity.MethodsThis review followed PRISMA guidance and adopted a multidisciplinary approach. Scopus and PubMed searches were performed by combining terms from 3 different thesauri containing synonyms for (1) multimorbidity and comorbidity, (2) polypharmacy, and (3) CDS. The relevant articles were identified by examining the titles and abstracts. The full text of selected/relevant articles was analyzed in-depth. For articles appropriate for this review, data were collected on clinical tasks, diseases, decision maker, methods, data input context, user interface considerations, and evaluation of effectiveness.ResultsA total of 50 articles were selected for the full in-depth analysis and 20 studies were included in the final review. Medication (n=10) and clinical guidance (n=8) were the predominant clinical tasks. Four studies focused on merging concurrent clinical practice guidelines. A total of 17 articles reported their CDS systems were knowledge-based. Most articles reviewed considered patients’ clinical records (n=19), clinical practice guidelines (n=12), and clinicians’ knowledge (n=10) as contextual input data. The most frequent diseases mentioned were cardiovascular (n=9) and diabetes mellitus (n=5). In all, 12 articles mentioned generalist doctor(s) as the decision maker(s). For articles reviewed, there were no studies referring to the active involvement of the patient in the decision-making process or to patient self-management. None of the articles reviewed adopted mobile technologies. There were no rigorous evaluations of usability or effectiveness of the CDS systems reported.ConclusionsThis review shows that multimorbidity is underinvestigated in the informatics of supporting clinical decisions. CDS interventions that systematize clinical practice guidelines without considering the interactions of different conditions and care processes may lead to unhelpful or harmful clinical actions. To improve patient safety in multimorbidity, there is a need for more evidence about how both conditions and care processes interact. The data needed to build this evidence base exist in many electronic health record systems and are underused.

Evaluation of physician assistants in National Health Service Scotland

Physician assistants (PAs) have medical training and work supervised by a doctor. In 2006-2008 the Scottish Government piloted use of USA-trained PAs. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the impact and contribution made by PAs to delivering effective health care in National Health Service (NHS) Scotland. Mixed methods, longitudinally, including interviews, feedback forms and activity data collection. Data analysis used nVivo, SPSS and Excel. Participants were 15 USA-trained PAs, medical supervisors and team members, 20 patients, four NHS senior managers and three trade union representatives. Settings were four Scottish NHS Boards where PAs worked in primary care, out of hours clinics, emergency medicine, intermediate care and orthopaedics. Two minor patient safety issues arose. Patients were satisfied with PAs. Scope of practice did not replicate US working. Inability to prescribe was a hindrance. PAs tended to have longer consultations, but provided continuity and an educational resource. They were assessed to be mid-level practitioners approximating to nurse practitioner or generalist doctor. Valued features were generalism, medical background, confidence differential diagnosis and communication. Interviewees suggested PAs could fulfil roles currently filled by medical staff, potentially saving resources. In conclusion, there is potential for PAs to fulfil distinctive mid-level roles in the Scottish NHS adding value in continuity, communication and medical approach.

Names and roles for the generalist doctor in Africa

The African Journal of Primary Health & Family Medicine welcomes submissions that encourage scholarly exchange between family medicine and primary health care researchers and practitioners across Africa and the developing world, whilst providing a contextual and holistic view of family medicine as practiced across the continent.

A look at the future of Family Practice in South Africa

This month we take a look at the future with the oublication of two thought-provoking articles. Many changes are taking place within the South African health care scene, which will determine the role of the generalist doctor in our health services and the future nature of medical education. What is the future of our speciality? As faculty members in three different programs in the last decade, we have noticed changes in the privileges sought by our graduates entering practice. Many do not want to deliver babies, do procedures for which they were trained,work in the lCU, or even have hospital practices at all. Some choose to limit their practices to children over age 2 or over age 12 and some do not want to care for children at all. What is the future of our discipline? The health care milieu is ripe for an increasing input and influence from General / Family Practice Implementation of government policy for public and private health care, as well as changes at medical schools, creates an interesting picture. And the shape, colour and place of the generalist doctor are being drawn in at this time.