Annals of family medicine
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Annals of family medicine · Jul 2023
Presence of Primary Care Physicians and Patients' Ability to Register: A Simulated-Patient Survey in the Paris Region.
Using the health care system fully in some countries requires patients to register with a primary care physician (PCP). Public health policies measure PCP density to maintain satisfactory local PCP supplies and limit geographic inequalities. ⋯ Of 5,188 census blocks, 55.4% had at least 1 PCP; however, only 38.6% had at least 1 PCP accepting registration for office visits, and only 19.4% had at least 1 PCP accepting registration for home visits (P <.001 across the 3 indicators). Cross-block inequalities in accepting registration were steeper than those related to PCP density, indicating that this density metric offers false reassurance and is inadequate to support policy decisions.
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Annals of family medicine · Jul 2023
Review Meta AnalysisComparative Efficacy of Pharmacological Treatments for Acne Vulgaris: A Network Meta-Analysis of 221 Randomized Controlled Trials.
Acne is an extremely common skin disease with an estimated global prevalence of 9.4%. We aim to provide comprehensive comparisons of the common pharmacological treatments for acne. ⋯ The most effective treatment for acne is oral isotretinoin, followed by triple therapies containing a topical retinoid, BPO, and an antibiotic. We present detailed comparisons of each intervention to serve as a practical database.
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Annals of family medicine · Jul 2023
ReviewImpact of Service-Based Student Loan Repayment Program on the Primary Care Workforce.
As the average level of medical education indebtedness rises, physicians look to programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to manage debt burden. Both represent service-dependent loan repayment programs, but the requirements and program outcomes diverge, and assessing the relative uptake of each program may help to inform health workforce policy decisions. We sought to describe variation in the composition of repayment program participant groups and measure relative impact on patient access to care. ⋯ Although PSLF supports family physicians intending to work in public service, their peers who choose NHSC are much more likely to work in underserved settings. Our findings may prompt a review of the goals of service loan forgiveness programs with potential to better serve health workforce needs.