Annals of family medicine
-
Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Outcomes of searching for online health and parenting information on behalf of others: A mixed methods research study.
Context: Use of trustworthy online consumer health information (OCHI) is generally associated with benefits, yet barriers such as low health literacy may reduce these benefits. One of the largest groups of OCHI consumers is parents of young children. In addition to OCHI, parents reach out to their social circle for tailored advice, emotional support, and culturally relevant parenting information. ⋯ Sharing information led to improved decision making, improved relationships, less worry and better health outcomes, or in some cases led to tensions. Conclusion: By better understanding how people use information together, health information can be adapted to meet both individual and group needs. Public health interventions aimed at supporting parents can do so by facilitating shared decision making.
-
Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Telehealth to improve continuity for patients receiving buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder.
Buprenorphine is medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. It is a controlled substance and most states limit the dispensing to a 30-day supply. Patients with opioid use disorder often have social determinants of health barriers that make it difficult to engage with the health system to obtain a new supply of buprenorphine every month. Telehealth can be used to reduce barriers to accessing care and improve continuity of care for patients receiving buprenorphine treatment. ⋯ Our study shows that rates of continuity of care are higher using tele-health for patients receiving medication assisted therapy for opioid use disorder. In an urban underserved population, tele-health can result in improved continuity of care for patients with opioid use disorder. Telehealth may reduce barriers to accessing care including transportation, work schedule, childcare, and other competing demands.
-
Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Family medicine provider and staff identification and response to male patient intimate partner violence perpetration.
Context: One in five men report lifetime intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration defined as using physical force against an intimate partner. Two in three male IPV perpetrators seek routine health services. Family medicine physicians can use IPV perpetration screening tools validated in healthcare, and potentially refer men to local battering intervention programs. ⋯ Providers described ways to increase patient use of interventions such as warm referral and virtual visits. Subjects described organizational challenges to IPV perpetration identification and response including limited time and resources, but hypothesized that training could improve implementation. Conclusions: family medicine providers and staff describe various methods to identify and respond to male patient IPV perpetration, including use of a team approach, warm referrals, recognizing patient and provider barriers, and building on continuity relationships already established in primary care.
-
Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Use of PHQ-9 for monitoring patients with depression in integrated primary care practices.
The PHQ-9 is a validated, short self-report questionnaire designed to be used in primary care for diagnosis and management of depression. We wished to assess its use for monitoring symptoms in patients being treated for depression. ⋯ The PHQ-9 is underutilized as an instrument for monitoring patients who are being treated for depression in primary care. Measurement based care has a strong evidence base and interventions to improve utilization of the PHQ-9 for monitoring are likely to improve depression outcomes in primary care.
-
Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Mixed methods participatory social justice community engagement model.
Context: This is a community engagement model based on a Mixed Methods Participatory Social Justice (MMPSJ) research project. The community engagement model evolved as both synthesis and dissemination were co-created with participants. Indigenous community members alongside researchers and Elders explored health literacy in an effort to illuminate root causes of the social determinants of health (SDoH) and to build community capacity. ⋯ Research Questions: In what ways can literacy be considered a social determinant of health from an urban Indigenous community? What literacy issues marginalize the community? How would you like this information shared or disseminated? Conclusions: Appropriate engagement with local community can inform the social determinants of health in an appreciative way, can enhance ethical space, and a richer understanding within community-based research. This capacity building approach will impact health care practitioners, educators, policies, and help to strengthen relations across systems. This research was reviewed and approved by the Behavioural REB at the University of Saskatchewan.