Practice Guidelines In Primary Care Research Articles

OP0077-HPR The effect of an interactive workshop on the adherence with the dutch physical therapy practice guideline for hip and knee osteoarthritis: A randomised controlled trial

BackgroundLiterature (1) and daily practice indicate a need for interactive forms of education to enhance guideline usage, but the evidence on their effectiveness is lacking.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was...

Barriers to prevention of cardiovascular disease in primary care settings in Argentina

To identify main barriers to preventing cardiovascular disease and implementing clinical practice guidelines in primary care, to pilot implementation of a tailored enactment of the adapted World Health Organization guidelines to prevent cardiovascular disease, and to assess the impact of the intervention in risk stratification. A qualitative study was done with decision makers, health professionals, and staff from five primary health care centers, who were interviewed to identify the main barriers. A tailored intervention to apply the guidelines was then designed and implemented. To assess the impact of the intervention on risk factor screening, a before-and-after analysis was performed through a records review of independent samples of patients aged 40 years or older attending each center. The main barriers identified were lack of awareness of guidelines and lack of knowledge about preventing cardiovascular disease, communication problems within health teams, lack of motivation, and organizational problems. Before (n = 226) and after (n = 234) the intervention, screening of the main risk factors increased: blood pressure measurement from 44.3% to 72.6%, cholesterol measurement from 20.7% to 49.7%, smoking status assessment from 20.4% to 56.1%, diabetes status assessment from 25.5% to 93.6%, and previous vascular event status from 33.2% to 74.3%. Global risk stratification was not done at baseline, compared with 45.1% after the intervention. The main barriers identified were useful in designing a tailored intervention. Although no clinical outcomes were evaluated, this study shows that the implementation is feasible, with increased risk stratification as a first step at better patient management.

Hypertension Management Initiative: Qualitative Results From Implementing Clinical Practice Guidelines in Primary Care Through a Facilitated Practice Program

The goal of the Hypertension Management Initiative (HMI) is to improve the management and control of hypertension by both primary care providers and patients. The HMI was in effect in 11 primary care sites across the province of Ontario, Canada. This was a qualitative study. Focus groups and a lobby survey were completed with a total of 199 of the 3934 patients enrolled in the study. Interviews with 41 participating health care providers from all sites were performed. A qualitative description approach was used to give a rich description of each informant's experiences. Patients expressed motivation and engagement in their own health care and became more knowledgeable about hypertension and how to manage it with their health care providers. Most reported satisfaction with the discipline of regular appointments and ongoing monitoring and counseling of the program including identifying and working on goals for their modifiable risk factors. Their health care providers felt the HMI program had a positive impact on the treatment and management of hypertension and also that it improved the functioning of the interprofessional team. The HMI helped to improve patient self-empowerment and self-management and also improved physicians' and nurses' confidence in diagnosing accurately and in hypertension management. Physician buy-in is key to maintaining clinical hypertension management. Interprofessional collaboration was improved for physicians and nurses but less so for pharmacists. Greater confidence among the nurses to manage hypertension more independently reduced demands on physician time.

Using a knowledge translation framework to implement asthma clinical practice guidelines in primary care

Quality problemInternational guidelines establish evidence-based standards for asthma care; however, recommendations are often not implemented and many patients do not meet control targets.Initial assessmentRegional pilot data demonstrated a knowledge-to-practice gap.Choice of solutionsWe engineered health system change in a multi-step approach described by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research knowledge translation framework.ImplementationKnowledge translation occurred at multiple levels: patient, practice and local health system. A regional administrative infrastructure and inter-disciplinary care teams were developed. The key project deliverable was a guideline-based interdisciplinary asthma management program. Six community organizations, 33 primary care physicians and 519 patients participated. The program operating cost was $290/patient.EvaluationSix guideline-based care elements were implemented, including spirometry measurement, asthma controller therapy, a written self-management action plan and general asthma education, including the inhaler device technique, role of medications and environmental control strategies in 93, 95, 86, 100, 97 and 87% of patients, respectively. Of the total patients 66% were adults, 61% were female, the mean age was 35.7 (SD = ±24.2) years. At baseline 42% had two or more symptoms beyond acceptable limits vs. 17% (P< 0.001) post-intervention; 71% reported urgent/emergent healthcare visits at baseline (2.94 visits/year) vs. 45% (1.45 visits/year) (P< 0.001); 39% reported absenteeism (5.0 days/year) vs. 19% (3.0 days/year) (P< 0.001). The mean follow-up interval was 22 (SD = ±7) months.Lessons learnedA knowledge-translation framework can guide multi-level organizational change, facilitate asthma guideline implementation, and improve health outcomes in community primary care practices. Program costs are similar to those of diabetes programs. Program savings offset costs in a ratio of 2.1:1

Hipotiroidismo subclínico y factores de riesgo cardiovascular

Objective: To determine the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in the general population of an urban health center and describe the clinical characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Methods: An observational study, retrospective, revie- wing the medical histories of patients sampled from June 2005 until July 2007. We analyzed the following varia- bles; facts: age and sex. Family history thyroid disease and other diseases. Personal history: cardiovascular pul- monary autoimmune, alterations gynecology obstetric diabetes, hypertension (HT) dislipemia, obesity, psychia- tric alterations and haematological. Laboratory data: novel TSH, free T4, antiperoxidase antibodies, total cho- lesterol and its fractions. Results: The prevalence of the sample of 100 patients collected over 8 months was 3.8% in the general popula- tion over 14 years, of which 79 were women and 21 were men. 13% were type 2 diabetics, 23% had HT and 40% had dyslipidemia. Overweight and obesity were present in 26%. The average level of TSH was 6.92 ± 2.29 μU/ml and the average level of free T4 was 1.16 ± 0.16 ng/ml. Conclusions: Prevalence subclinical hypothyroidism was 3.8%. especially in women with a mean age of 46. The incidence of cardiovascular risk factors in the subjects studied is higher in DM (13%), similar to general popula- tion in terms of dyslipidemia (40%) and obesity (23%) and lowest in hypertension (23%). In our study we obser- ved a common pattern in the management of subclinical hypothyroidism, requiring the implementation and pro- motion of practice guidelines in primary care.

Subclinical hypothyroidism and cardiovascular risk factors

To determine the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in the general population of an urban health center and describe the clinical characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. An observational study, retrospective, reviewing the medical histories of patients sampled from June 2005 until July 2007. We analyzed the following variables; facts: age and sex. Family history thyroid disease and other diseases. Personal History: cardiovascular pulmonary autoimmune, alterations gynecology obstetric diabetes, hypertension (HT) dislipemia, obesity, psychiatric alterations and haematological. Laboratory data: novel TSH, free T4, antiperoxidase antibodies, total cholesterol and its fractions. The prevalence of the sample of 100 patients collected over 8 months was 3.8% in the general population over 14 years, of which 79 were women and 21 were men. 13% were type 2 diabetics, 23% had HT and 40% had dyslipidemia. Overweight and obesity were present in 26%. The average level of TSH was 6.92 ± 2.29 μU/ml and the average level of free T4 was 1.16 ± 0.16 ng/ml. Prevalence subclinical hypothyroidism was 3.8%. especially in women with a mean age of 46. The incidence of cardiovascular risk factors in the subjects studied is higher in DM (13%), similar to general population in terms of dyslipidemia (40%) and obesity (23%) and lowest in hypertension (23%). In our study we observed a common pattern in the management of subclinical hypothyroidism, requiring the implementation and promotion of practice guidelines in primary care.

Educational Interventions for Implementation of Arthritis Clinical Practice Guidelines in Primary Care: Effects on Health Professional Behavior

The dissemination and adoption of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) has been suggested as one method for improving arthritis care delivery. This article provides a review and synthesis of studies evaluating the influence of educational programs designed to implement CPG for osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in primary care. A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant educational interventions that reported behavioral outcomes that ensured actual knowledge utilization in primary care. A standardized approach was used to assess the quality of the individual studies and a modified version of the Philadelphia Panel methodology allowed for grading of studies based on strength of design, clinical relevance, and statistical significance. The search identified 485 articles; 7 studies were selected for review. In OA, peer facilitated workshops with nurse case-management support for patients decreased the number of referrals to orthopedics by 23%, and educational outreach by trained physicians improved prescribing of analgesics. Interprofessional peer facilitated workshops were successful in increasing referrals to rehabilitation services for people with OA and RA. There was sparse literature on educational programs for the implementation of arthritis CPG in the primary care environment. Future studies are needed to evaluate which specific organizational, provider, patient, and system level factors influence the uptake of arthritis CPG in primary care.

Implementing arthritis clinical practice guidelines in primary care

Background: Multi-faceted interventions are among the strongest methods for changing provider behavior.Aims: This paper reports the design, implementation and process evaluation of an educational program to disseminate clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) on the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) in primary care.Methods: Organizations were invited to participate in inter-professional workshops on OA and RA followed by six months of activities to support the delivery of care in the community. Confidence in ability to manage arthritis was assessed at baseline using a 10 point numerical rating scale. Qualitative assessments were done immediately and 3–12 months post workshop.Results: 646 multidisciplinary providers from 216 organizations attended one of 30 workshops. Providers (n = 584) reported moderate confidence in managing arthritis: family physicians: mean: SD = 7.46(1.42), n = 145; nurse practitioners: 6.10(1.84), n = 73; other health care professionals: 5.23(2.83), n = 389. Participants identified team learning, the opportunity to network and the involvement of trained patient educators as strong features of the workshops. At follow-up, participants indicated the greatest impact of the program was on collaborative care (83%) and patient self-management (79%).Conclusions: Qualitative results suggest that inter-professional learning may be a successful strategy for improving the delivery of collaborative arthritis care and supporting patient self-management.

Exploring the Generalist-Subspecialist Interface in Internal Medicine

Exploring the Generalist-Subspecialist Interface in Internal Medicine

Duration of Antidepressant Treatment and Risk of Relapse or Recurrence

Clinical practice guidelines for primary care recommend that an antidepressant be continued for at least 4 to 9 months after remission of an index

How Useful are Practice Guidelines in Primary Care?

How Useful are Practice Guidelines in Primary Care?

How useful are practice guidelines in primary care?

How useful are practice guidelines in primary care?