Primary Care Program Research Articles

Self-help mobile messaging intervention for depression among older adults in resource-limited settings: a randomized controlled trial

Scalable solutions to treat depression in older adults in low-resourced settings are urgently needed. The PRODIGITAL-D pragmatic, single-blind, two-arm, individually randomized controlled trial assessed the effectiveness of a mobile messaging psychosocial intervention in improving depressive symptomatology among older adults in socioeconomically deprived areas of Guarulhos, Brazil. Older adults (aged 60+ years) registered with 24 primary care clinics and identified with depressive symptomatology (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores ≥ 10) received the 6-week Viva Vida intervention based on psychoeducation and behavioral activation (n = 298) or a single message (n = 305). No health professional support was offered. The primary outcome was improvement from depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9 < 10) at 3 months. Of the 603 participants enrolled (mean age = 65.1 years; 451 (74.8%) women), 527 (87.4%) completed the follow-up assessment. In the intervention arm, 109 of 257 (42.4%) participants had an improved depressive symptomatology, compared with 87 of 270 (32.2%) participants in the control arm (adjusted odds ratio = 1.57; 95% confidence interval = 1.07–2.29; P = 0.019). No severe adverse events related to trial participation were observed. These results demonstrate the usefulness of a digital messaging psychosocial intervention in the short-term improvement from depressive symptomatology that can potentially be integrated into primary care programs for treating older adults with depression. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials registration: ReBEC (RBR-4c94dtn).

Service-Learning Through Community-Based Exercise Teaching Enhances Medical Students’ Exercise Knowledge, Counseling Confidence, and Habits

Exercise is a pivotal tool in the prevention and management of chronic disease, a cornerstone of primary care. Yet, there is little formal exercise education in medical school and many medical students feel unprepared to effectively counsel patients about exercise. Since 2019, medical students in the Primary Care Program (PCP), a primary care-focused educational track, at the Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) of the University of Southern California (USC) have taught exercise classes to the local community as part of a service-learning experience. Students receive lectures on exercise from faculty and then deliver curated bilingual English/Spanish presentations and lead exercise classes for the community. Post participation in this program, students reported (1) increased knowledge of exercise principles, (2) increased predicted likelihood of counseling patients about exercise, (3) increased confidence in providing exercise counseling, and (4) intent to make positive changes in their own exercise habits. This curriculum provides a replicable lifestyle medicine model for other medical schools seeking to enhance exercise education and train the next generation of primary care physicians.

Key informants perspectives on creating a high impact research department in family and community medicine: a qualitative project.

Primary care is integral to the health system and population health. Primary care research is still in development and most academic departments lack effective research investments. High impact primary care research programs are needed to advance the field to ensure a robust primary care system for the future. The project objective was to understand key informants' views of structures, functions, and processes required to create a high impact research program in an academic primary care department. A descriptive qualitative project with key informants from research programs in primary care. Participants included international research leaders in primary care (n = 10), department of family and community researchers (n = 37) and staff (n = 9) in an academic primary care department, other university leaders (n = 3) and members of the departmental executive leadership team (1 department; 25 members). Semi-structured interviews (n = 27), and focus groups (n = 6) were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. We used a socioecological framework which described micro, meso, macro levels of influence. At the micro level despite barriers with respect to funding, protected time and lack of formal mentorship, personal motivation was a key factor. At the meso level, the organizational structure that promoted collaboration and a sense of connection emerged as a key factor. Specifically research leaders identified a research faculty development pipeline based on equity, diversity, inclusion, indigeneity, and accessibility principles with thematic areas of focus as key enablers. Lastly, at the macro level, an overarching culture and policies that promoted funding and primary care research was associated with high impact programs. The alignment/complementarity of micro, meso, and macro level factors influenced the creation of a high impact research department in primary care. High impact research in primary care is facilitated by the development of researchers through formalized and structured mentorship/sponsorship and a department culture that promote primary care research.

Implementing a contextually appropriate foot-ankle exercise programme in primary care for the prevention of modifiable risk factors for ulcers in people with diabetes: protocol for a hybrid type 2 study

IntroductionDiabetes is a highly prevalent disease that negatively impacts people’s health and quality of life. It can result in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and foot complications, which in turn lead...

Characteristics of self-management education and support programmes for people with chronic diseases delivered by primary care teams: a rapid review

BackgroundPrimary care actors can play a major role in developing and promoting access to Self-Management Education and Support (SMES) programmes for people with chronic disease. We reviewed studies on SMES programmes in primary care by focusing on the following dimensions: models of SMES programmes in primary care, SMES team’s composition, and participants’ characteristics.MethodsFor this mixed-methods rapid review, we searched the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases to identify articles in English and French that assessed a SMES programme in primary care for four main chronic diseases (diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and/or respiratory chronic disease) and published between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2021. We excluded articles on non-original research and reviews. We evaluated the quality of the selected studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. We reported the study results following the PRISMA guidelines.ResultsWe included 68 studies in the analysis. In 46/68 studies, a SMES model was described by focusing mainly on the organisational dimension (n = 24). The Chronic Care Model was the most used organisational model (n = 9). Only three studies described a multi-dimension model. In general, the SMES team was composed of two healthcare providers (mainly nurses), and partnerships with community actors were rarely reported. Participants were mainly patients with only one chronic disease. Only 20% of the described programmes took into account multimorbidity. Our rapid review focused on two databases and did not identify the SMES programme outcomes.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the limited implication of community actors and the infrequent inclusion of multimorbidity in the SMES programmes, despite the recommendations to develop a more interdisciplinary approach in SMES programmes. This rapid review identified areas of improvement for SMES programme development in primary care, especially the privileged place of nurses in their promotion.Trial registrationPROSPERO 2021 CRD42021268290.

Prototyping the implementation of a suicide prevention protocol in primary care settings using PDSA cycles: a mixed method study

IntroductionIn Canada, approximately 4,500 individuals die by suicide annually. Approximately 45% of suicide decedents had contact with their primary care provider within the month prior to their death. Current versus never smokers have an 81% increased risk of death by suicide. Those who smoke have additional risks for suicide such as depression, chronic pain, alcohol, and other substance use. They are more likely to experience adverse social determinants of health. Taken together, this suggests that smoking cessation programs in primary care could be facilitators of suicide prevention, but this has not been studied.Study objectivesThe objectives of the study are to understand barriers/facilitators to implementing a suicide prevention protocol within a smoking cessation program (STOP program), which is deployed by an academic mental health and addiction treatment hospital in primary care clinics and to develop and test implementation strategies to facilitate the uptake of suicide screening and assessment in primary care clinics across Ontario.MethodsThe study employed a three-phase sequential mixed-method design. Phase 1: Conducted interviews guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research exploring barriers to implementing a suicide prevention protocol. Phase 2: Performed consensus discussions to map barriers to implementation strategies using the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change tool and rank barriers by relevance. Phase 3: Evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of implementation strategies using Plan Do Study Act cycles.ResultsEleven healthcare providers and four research assistants identified lack of training and the need of better educational materials as implementation barriers. Participants endorsed and tested the top three ranked implementation strategies, namely, a webinar, adding a preamble before depression survey questions, and an infographic. After participating in the webinar and reviewing the educational materials, all participants endorsed the three strategies as acceptable/very acceptable and feasible/very feasible.ConclusionAlthough there are barriers to implementing a suicide prevention protocol within primary care, it is possible to overcome them with strategies deemed both acceptable and feasible. These results offer promising practice solutions to implement a suicide prevention protocol in smoking cessation programs delivered in primary care settings. Future efforts should track implementation of these strategies and measure outcomes, including provider confidence, self-efficacy, and knowledge, and patient outcomes.

The Clinical Resource Hub Telehealth Program and Use of Primary Care, Emergency, and Inpatient Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted delivery of health care services worldwide. We examined the impact of the pandemic on clinics participating in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) program, rolled out nationally in October 2019, to improve access to care at under-resourced VA clinics or “spoke” sites through telehealth services delivered by regional “hub” sites.ObjectiveTo assess whether the CRH program was associated with increased access to primary care, we compared use of primary, emergency, and inpatient care at sites that adopted CRH for primary care (CRH-PC) with sites that did not adopt CRH-PC, pre-post pandemic onset.DesignDifference-in-difference and event study analyses, adjusting for site characteristics.Study CohortA total of 1050 sites (254 CRH-PC sites; 796 comparison sites), fiscal years (FY) 2019–2021.InterventionCRH Program for Primary Care.Main MeasuresQuarterly number of VA visits per site for primary care (across all and by modality, in-person, video, and phone), emergency care, and inpatient care.ResultsIn adjusted analyses, CRH-PC sites, compared with non-CRH-PC sites, had on average 221 additional primary care visits (a volume increase of 3.4% compared to pre-pandemic). By modality, CRH-PC sites had 643 fewer in-person visits post-pandemic (− 14.4%) but 723 and 128 more phone and video visits (+ 39.9% and + 159.5%), respectively. CRH-PC sites, compared with non-CRH-PC sites, had fewer VA ED visits (− 4.2%) and hospital stays (− 5.1%) in VA medical centers. Examining visits per patient, we found that CRH-PC sites had 48 additional telephone primary care visits per 1000 primary care patients (an increase of 9.8%), compared to non-program sites.ConclusionsVA’s pre-pandemic rollout of a new primary care telehealth program intended to improve access facilitated primary care visits during the pandemic, a period fraught with care disruptions, and limited in-person health care delivery, indicating the potential for the program to offer health system resilience.

Diagnostic uncertainty and decision-making in home-based primary care: A qualitative study of antibiotic prescribing.

Evaluating infection in home-based primary care is challenging, and these challenges may impact antibiotic prescribing. A refined understanding of antibiotic decision-making in this setting can inform strategies to promote antibiotic stewardship. This study investigated antibiotic decision-making by exploring the perspectives of clinicians in home-based primary care. Clinicians from the Department of Veterans Affairs Home-Based Primary Care Program were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from June 2022 through September 2022 using a discussion guide. Transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory. The constant comparative method was used to develop a coding structure and to identify themes. Theoretical saturation was reached after 22 clinicians (physicians, n = 7; physician assistants, n = 2, advanced practice registered nurses, n = 13) from 19 programs were interviewed. Mean age was 48.5 ± 9.3 years, 91% were female, and 59% had ≥6 years of experience in home-based primary care. Participants reported uncertainty about the diagnosis of infection due to the characteristics of homebound patients (atypical presentations of disease, presence of multiple chronic conditions, presence of cognitive impairment) and the challenges of delivering medical care in the home (limited access to diagnostic testing, suboptimal quality of microbiological specimens, barriers to establishing remote access to the electronic health record). When faced with diagnostic uncertainty about infection, participants described many factors that influenced the decision to prescribe antibiotics, including those that promoted prescribing (desire to avoid hospitalization, pressure from caregivers, unreliable plans for follow-up) and those that inhibited prescribing (perceptions of antibiotic-associated harms, willingness to trial non-pharmacological interventions first, presence of caregivers who were trusted by clinicians to monitor symptoms). Clinicians face the difficult task of balancing diagnostic uncertainty with many competing considerations during the treatment of infection in home-based primary care. Recognizing these issues provides insight into strategies to promote antibiotic stewardship in home care settings.

Access to community pharmacies based on drive time and by rurality across the contiguous United States

BackgroundConsidering that mail-order pharmacy use remains low in the United States, geographic accessibility of community pharmacies (pharmacy access) can have an outsized impact on a community’s access to services and care, especially among rural residents. However, previous measurements of pharmacy access rely on methods that do not capture all aspects of geographic access. ObjectivesThis study aimed to measure pharmacy access across the contiguous United States and by rural, suburban, and urban areas using drive-time analysis and an improved methodological approach. MethodsThe 2-step floating catchment area method was used to measure pharmacy access by considering the supply capacity of pharmacies, population demand for pharmacies, and the interaction between them within a reasonable travel time range. This method is a methodologically improved approach compared with previous methods for measuring geographic access. Network analysis was used to measure drive time from the population-weighted centroids of census tracts to the geocoded location of community pharmacies. Census tract-level pharmacy access was measured using a 10- and 20-minute drive time. Census tracts were also categorized based on population per square mile as rural (< 1000), suburban (1000-3000), and urban (> 3000). ResultsAcross the contiguous United States, 79.9% and 91.1% of census tracts had access to at least 1 pharmacy per 10,000 people within a 10- and 20-minute drive time, respectively. Rural census tracts had the lowest share of access to at least 1 pharmacy per 10,000 people compared with suburban and urban tracts and for both drive times. ConclusionCommunity pharmacies are highly accessible health care access points, specifically in urban and suburban areas. Pharmacies should be considered to expand access to services with limited geographic accessibility such as treatment programs for opioid use disorders, primary care, and healthy foods.

Using implementation science to develop a familial hypercholesterolemia screening program in primary care: The CARE-FH study

We designed the Collaborative Approach to Reach Everyone with Familial Hypercholesterolemia (CARE-FH) clinical trial to improve FH screening in primary care and facilitate guideline-based care. The goal was to incorporate perspectives from end-users (healthcare system leaders, primary care clinicians, cardiologists, genetic counselors, nurses, and clinic staff) and improve translation of screening guidance into practice. We partnered with end-users to sequentially define the current state of FH screening, assess acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of implementing an FH screening program, and select clinically actionable strategies at the patient-, clinician-, and system-level to be deployed as a package in the CARE-FH clinical trial. Methods informed by implementation science and human centered design included: contextual inquiries, surveys, and deliberative engagement sessions. Screening for FH occurred rarely in primary care, and then only after a cardiovascular event or sometimes due to a family history of high cholesterol or early heart attack. Surveys suggested FH screening in primary care was acceptable, appropriate, and feasible. Reported and observed barriers to screening include insufficient time at patient encounters to screen, cost and convenience of testing for patients, and knowledge regarding causes of dyslipidemia. Facilitators included clear guidance on screening criteria and new therapies to treat FH. These results led to the development of multilevel strategies that were presented to end-users, modified, and then pilot tested in one primary care clinic. A refined implementation strategy package for FH screening was created with a goal of improving FH awareness, identification, and initiation of guideline-based care. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05284513?id=NCT05284513&rank=1 Unique Identifier: NCT05284513.

Evolution of the availability of Information and Communication Technologies in primary health care in Brazil, 2012 to 2018.

To verify the evolution of the availability of information and communication technology equipment and inputs in primary health care services that participated in the external evaluation of the Access and Quality Improvement Program in Primary Care and its distribution according to context characteristics social and geographic. Cross-sectional study, analyzed the distribution of information and communication technology equipment in basic health units in Brazil, during the three cycles (2012 to 2018) of the Program for Improving Access and Quality in Primary Care. The variables were examined at the municipal level and stratified by geopolitical region. Univariate analysis was performed, using the chi-square test and testing the distributions of exposures among themselves and between the outcome and exposures. The availability of information and communication technology equipment increased from 9.4% (2012) to 17.5% (2018), with emphasis on the Southeast and South regions, in municipalities with a population size of up to 10,000 inhabitants², with greater family health coverage and high/very high HDI-M. Over the period from 2012 to 2018, basic units joined the program and increased availability of information and communication technologies, such as Internet access, which ranged from 45.2% (n=6,249) to 74.0% (n=21,423), with emphasis on the Northeast region, which increased from 19.1% (n=970) to 58.8% (n=7,087). Investment in technologies and constant evaluation of primary care in the country is necessary, contributing to its strengthening.

Assessing new patient attachment to an integrated, virtual care programme in rural primary care.

An estimated 20% of residents of Renfrew County, a rural and underserved community in Ontario, do not have a family physician or alternative primary care provider. Integrated virtual care (IVC) aims to address this crisis by enrolling individuals who are not currently attached to a primary care provider, to a named family physician who works predominantly remotely. The physician is embedded within an existing, local family health team. The aim of this study was to assess and describe the IVC model's capacity to enrol previously unattached patients in Renfrew County and provide adequate primary care. We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study of data collected from patients enrolled for at least 3 months to an IVC family physician from 15 November 2021 (earliest appointment date for first IVC patients) to 30 June 2022 inclusive. N = 790 patients were successfully attached to a family physician and received at least 3 months of care through IVC within the study period. Of the study population, 65% were female and over 75% were under the age of 55. Among patients who were current smokers at the time of IVC enrolment (n = 115), approximately 1 in 5 (18.3%) started a smoking cessation programme following referral by their IVC physician. In addition, IVC physicians and allied health professionals performed 66 colorectal cancer screenings, 164 cervical cancer screenings and 39 breast cancer screenings during the study period, bringing many overdue patients up to date for routine testing. IVC has been successful in attaching previously unattached patients to a family physician and providing, comprehensive, team-based primary care during its initial 7 months of operation. Similar integrated primary care delivery concepts can also use these results to guide their own development and quality improvement. On estime que 20% des habitants du comté de Renfrew, une communauté rurale et mal desservie de l'Ontario, n'ont pas de médecin de famille ou d'autre prestataire de soins primaires. Le programme de Soins virtuels intégrés (SVI) vise à résoudre cette crise en proposant aux personnes qui n'ont pas de prestataire de soins primaires de consulter un médecin de famille désigné qui travaille principalement à distance. Le médecin est intégré à une équipe de santé familiale locale existante. L'objectif de cette étude était d'évaluer et de décrire la capacité du modèle de SVI à inscrire des patients qui n'étaient pas rattachés à un prestataire de soins primaires dans le comté de Renfrew et à leur fournir des soins primaires adéquats. Nous avons mené une étude transversale et descriptive des données recueillies auprès des patients inscrits depuis au moins trois mois auprès d'un médecin de famille IVC entre le 15 novembre 2021 (date de rendez-vous la plus proche pour les premiers patients SVI) et le 30 juin 2022 inclus. N = 790 patients ont été rattachés avec succès à un médecin de famille et ont reçu au moins 3 mois de soins par l'intermédiaire des SVI au cours de la période d'étude. Parmi la population étudiée, 65% étaient des femmes et plus de 75% avaient moins de 55 ans. Parmi les patients qui fumaient au moment de leur inscription aux SVI (n = 115), environ 1 sur 5 (18,3%) a entamé un programme de sevrage tabagique après avoir été orienté par son médecin en SVI. En outre, les médecins du centre et les professionnels paramédicaux ont effectué 66 dépistages du cancer colorectal, 164 dépistages du cancer du col de l'utérus et 39 dépistages du cancer du sein au cours de la période d'étude, ce qui a permis à de nombreux patients en retard de SE soumettre à des tests de routine. Le programme de SVI a réussi à mettre en relation des patients qui ne l'étaient pas auparavant avec un médecin de famille et à fournir des soins primaires complets en équipe au cours de ses sept premiers mois d'activité. Des concepts similaires de prestation de soins primaires intégrés peuvent également utiliser ces résultats pour guider leur propre développement et l'amélioration de la qualité.

Development of Nursing Services for Musculoskeletal Disorders in Primary Health Care

Musculoskeletal disorders are a common health problem worldwide, and their prevalence is increasing in many countries, including the Republic of Kazakhstan. These disorders can significantly affect a person's quality of life and ability to perform daily activities, leading to a high demand for healthcare services. This review article is devoted to the study of issues of development of nursing care within the framework of primary health care programs for diseases of the musculoskeletal system in Kazakhstan, Japan, the United States, and Poland. A systematic search was conducted for the review, limiting it to studies published between 2010 and 2021. In the context of musculoskeletal disorders, nursing assistance can involve various tasks, such as assessing patients' symptoms, providing pain relief, assisting with physical exercises, and educating patients on self-care. The development of nursing assistance within the primary healthcare program for the care of patients with musculoskeletal disorders is an essential component of improving healthcare services.

Impact of Family Structure on Adolescent Depression Outcomes in a Collaborative Care Program.

We aimed to investigate the effect of family structure on depression program outcomes for adolescents enrolled in a depression-focused, primary care-based collaborative care program. This was a retrospective study of primary care patients ages 12 to 18 years seen at a Midwestern academic center with data obtained by medical record review. We used logistic regression models to assess the effect of family structure on program graduation and achievement of a single Patient Health Questionnaire 9-Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-9M) score <5 at any time while enrolled. Adolescents were divided into 2 groups, Both Parents in Household (n = 179) and Parents Not Together (n = 161). The Both Parents in Household group had higher rates of graduation (38.0% vs 23.6%, P = .005) and achieving single PHQ-9M scores <5 (64.1% vs 46.2%, P = .002) than the Parents Not Together group. Youth residing with both parents had higher rates of successful outcomes in a depression-focused collaborative care program.

Evaluating primary care programmes: a problem-solving cycle with literature review on programme evaluation for cervical cancer screening at a community health centre, Jakarta, Indonesia

Evaluating primary care programmes: a problem-solving cycle with literature review on programme evaluation for cervical cancer screening at a community health centre, Jakarta, Indonesia

A retrospective cohort study of a community-based primary care program's effects on pharmacotherapy quality in low-income Peruvians with type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Little is known about the effects of the Chronic Care Model (CCM) and community health workers (CHWs) on pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes and hypertension in resource-poor settings. This retrospective cohort implementation study evaluated the effects of a community-based program consisting of CCM, CHWs, guidelines-based treatment protocols, and inexpensive freely accessible medications on type 2 diabetes and hypertension pharmacotherapy quality. A door-to-door household survey identified 856 adults 35 years of age and older living in a low-income Peruvian community, of whom 83% participated in screening for diabetes and hypertension. Patients with confirmed type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension participated in the program's weekly to monthly visits for < = 27 months. The program was implemented as two care periods employed sequentially. During home care, CHWs made weekly home visits and a physician made treatment decisions remotely. During subsequent clinic care, a physician attended patients in a centralized clinic. The study compared the effects of program (pre- versus post-) (N = 262 observations), and home versus clinic care periods (N = 211 observations) on standards of treatment with hypoglycemic and antihypertensive agents, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and low-dose aspirin. During the program, 80% and 50% achieved hypoglycemic and antihypertensive standards, respectively, compared to 35% and 8% prior to the program, RRs 2.29 (1.72-3.04, p <0.001) and 6.64 (3.17-13.9, p<0.001). Achievement of treatment standards was not improved by clinic compared to home care (RRs 1.0 +/- 0.08). In both care periods, longer retention in care (>50% of allowable time) was associated with achievement of all treatment standards. 85% compared to 56% achieved the hypoglycemic treatment standard with longer and shorter retention, respectively, RR 1.52 (1.13-2.06, p<0.001); 56% compared to 27% achieved the antihypertensive standard, RR 2.11 (1.29-3.45, p<0.001). In a dose-dependent manner, the community-based program was associated with improved guidelines-based pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Spontaneous Scaling of a Primary Care Innovation in Real-Life Conditions: Protocol for a Case Study.

Scaling effective primary care innovations to benefit more people is of interest to decision makers. However, we know little about how promising innovations are being scaled "spontaneously," that is, without deliberate guidance. We aim to observe, document, and analyze how, in real-life conditions, 1 primary care innovation spontaneously scales up across Quebec, Canada. We will conduct a participative study using a descriptive single-case study. It will be guided by the McLean and Gargani principles for scaling and reported according to the COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) guidelines. Informed by an integrated knowledge translation approach, our steering committee will include patient users throughout the project. Inspired by the Quebec College of Family Physician's "Dragons' Den" primary care program, we will identify a promising primary care innovation that is being or will be scaled spontaneously. We will interview the innovation team about their scaling experiences every month for 1 year. We will conduct interviews and focus groups with decision makers, health care providers, and end users in the innovation team and the target site about their experience of both scaling and receiving the scaled innovation and document meetings as nonparticipant observers. Interview transcripts and documentary data will be analyzed to (1) compare the spontaneous scaling plan and implementation with the McLean and Gargani principles for scaling and (2) determine how it was consistent with or diverged from the 4 McLean and Gargani guiding principles: justification, optimal scale, coordination, and dynamic evaluation. This study was funded in March 2020 by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Recruitment began in November 2023 and data collection began in December 2023. Results are expected to be published in the first quarter of 2024. Our study will advance the science of scaling by providing practical evidence-based material about scaling health and social care innovations in real-world settings using the 4 guiding principles of McLean and Gargani. PRR1-10.2196/54855.

Implementing preemptive, multigene, pharmacogenomic testing in the inpatient setting: Preliminary results from a small, rural facility

AbstractIntroductionPreemptive pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing is on the rise among United States health care centers, with the majority of testing performed in the primary care setting. For broader implementation, there is a call for descriptions of the implementation and workflow of successful PGx programs in a large variety of health care settings.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to describe the implementation and initial outcomes of preemptive PGx (11‐gene, multipanel) testing in inpatient workflow at a Veterans Affairs medical center.MethodsThe inpatient clinical pharmacist incorporated patient screening, informed consent, and PGx lab ordering into their daily workflow in March 2023. Included adult patients had to be enrolled into the facility's primary care program and able to provide informed consent. Patients were excluded if they had a history of bone marrow or liver transplant, were consulted for palliative or hospice care, or had altered mental status at the time of screening. A retrospective chart review was used to collect demographics and PGx results from March to August 2023.ResultsThere were 247 patients screened for PGx testing in the 6‐month study period. Of these, 74 already had PGx performed, 31 declined or deferred testing, and 142 consented to testing. Laboratory blood draw was not performed as ordered on 12 patients, leaving 130 samples with results. Of 130 patients, 129 (99%) had an actionable PGx variant, with most having multiple variants: one variant (6%), two variants (15%), three variants (32%), four variants (24%), five variants (18%), and six variants (3%). At the time of follow‐up, 64 (49%) patients were prescribed an affected medication: one medication (38%), two medications (8%), and three medications (3%).ConclusionIncorporating preemptive PGx testing into inpatient workflow is feasible in a rural facility with a significant proportion of patients being affected by the results.

Broadening their horizons: A rural and urban nursing student exchange program in primary care

Educational strategies that allow students to experience patient care in both rural and urban settings are imperative to the recruitment and retention of nurses for medically underserved populations or health professional shortage areas. Two state schools of nursing (one urban-oriented and one rural-oriented) in the Mid-Atlantic region were awarded Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) project funding to educate nursing students and registered nurses in community-based primary care settings. This article will discuss an innovative rural-urban baccalaureate nursing student exchange model intended to increase understanding of enhanced RN roles in community-based primary care settings.Two project teams collaborated to create a new learning model, a rural-urban exchange, by implementing a Primary Care Camp. The camp included shared didactic content, reflection exercises, historical and cultural considerations, and clinical immersion to allow students in both programs to have on-site rural and urban learning experiences. Faculty collected informal voluntary student feedback through a debrief after their Primary Care Camp experience to assess their understanding of the enhanced RN Role in primary care and how it may affect their future nursing practice.Student feedback suggests that the students met project goals and appreciated the rural and urban exchange experience. This project is an innovative approach that offers guidance for implementing primary care education in a way that supports the current primary care RN role, builds the future workforce, and provides suggestions for replicability.

Care Recipient Factors That Predict Caregiver Burden in Older Adult Dyads

As individuals age, changes in their health status and functional level may begin to require caregiving from family caregivers. The role of caregiver can be taxing, a well-established phenomenon known as caregiver burden. While many studies have examined the factors within the caregiver that can be predictive of caregiver burden (or burnout), relatively few have examined the factors of the care recipient that predict caregiver burden. Using a sample of individuals enrolled in the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Home Based Primary Care program, we collected data on demographic, psychological (i.e. mood and cognitive) and nursing (e.g. ADL/IADL, fall risk, etc.) factors. Using stepwise regression modeling, we discovered that only care recipient’s age, IADL impairment, and gender predicted caregiver burden. We discuss possible causes of the relationships and implications for nursing and homecare practice.