Annals of family medicine
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Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Relationship of primary care clinician characteristics with continuous glucose monitoring use and confidence.
Context: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides clearer readings of blood glucose levels than traditional finger-stick glucose tests and is associated with improved diabetes outcomes such as reduced HbA1c. CGM can inform insulin dosing and diet decisions, and alert patients to hypoglycemia. A lack of endocrinologists in the majority of U. ⋯ Clinician type, percentage of time spent practicing, portion of time delivering primary care, and distance from endocrinologist are related to likelihood to prescribe CGM. Previous experience prescribing CGM may improve confidence and likelihood of future prescribing. Consultation, education and training on CGM for primary care clinicians may increase access to CGM.
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Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Participants' experience in using a point of Care Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for SARS-CoV-2.
Learning objectives: On completion of this presentation, participant should be able to: Understand the feasibility of RAT for SARS-CoV-2 screening in primary care Understand the role of RAT for SARS-CoV-2 screening in prevention of COVID-19 transmission in community Context: The COVID-19 pandemic has paralyzed human interactions worldwide. At least half of COVID-19 transmissions could originate from asymptomatic individuals. Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) with nasal sampling at the point of care is inexpensive, fast and less invasive than PCR testing. ⋯ More than two thirds of participants reported RAT provide them peace of mind and reduced anxiety levels. Participants found the RAT to be safe, easy, accessible and rapid. Conclusions: Rapid antigen testing for detecting COVID-19 is well accepted and could support the detection of infection at an early stage amongst asymptomatic individuals while easing their worries.
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Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Observational StudyEthnic disparities in the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 testing positivity comparing Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations.
Context: The Hispanics make up the largest ethnic minority in the United States (US). Hispanics have lower all-cause mortality and many chronic disease morbidities, despite lower socioeconomic status (SES), and barriers to health care. Whether this phenomenon, termed as the "Hispanic Paradox", holds during an infectious disease pandemic, warrants investigation. ⋯ Multivariate analysis showed that older age, male sex (OR = 1.42, p = 0.000), being symptomatic (OR = 6.03, 95% CI: 5.31-6.85), having no insurance (OR = 1.34, p = 0.041), obesity (OR = 1.18, p = 0.002), and Hispanic ethnicity (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.16-1.82) were associated with higher likelihood of viral positivity, whilst being White (OR = 0.68, p = 0.000), having cancer (OR = 0.69, p = 0.005) or COPD (OR = 0.69, p = 0.000) were associated with lower test positivity. Conclusion: We found ethnic and racial disparities in COVID-19 viral positivity rates. The diminishing Hispanic Paradox warrants further investigation into SES, cultural, and behavioral factors.
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Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Assessing the mechanisms contributing to self-care behaviours in young and usual-onset diabetes.
Context: Young-onset diabetes (YOD) (age of onset 21-39 years) is associated with a poorer metabolic profile and a higher risk of complications, and poor self-care behaviours play a significant role. However, few studies have comprehensively examined the mechanisms (self-efficacy, dietary barriers, illness perceptions, knowledge, diabetes-related distress) that may contribute to poor self-care behaviours in YOD. Objectives: Our study aims to compare these mechanisms and self-care behaviours between participants with YOD and usualonset diabetes (age of onset 40-59 years). ⋯ Participants with YOD also perceived that diabetes affected their lives more severely (consequence) (d=0.26), had a larger effect on their emotions (emotional representation) (d=0.28), will last longer (timeline) (d=0.37), and perceived that treatment was less likely help their diabetes (treatment control) (d=0.26). Conclusions: Participants with YOD experienced greater diabetes-related distress, lower self-efficacy and reported lower dietary adherence with more dietary barriers than those with UOD. Patients with YOD have distinctly different issues from UOD, and in providing care for YOD, clinicians should actively seek to identify and address these issues.
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Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Access to general practice during COVID-19: a cross-sectional view of the opinions of adults who use social media.
Background/Aim: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual consultations have become commonplace, and access to healthcare more complex. The study was designed to examine the impact COVID-19 has had on access to general practice care in Ireland. Methods: A 25-question online survey was designed in Qualtrics®. ⋯ Maintaining the supply chain for long-term medications for patients remains a challenge during a pandemic. Authors accept that study participants were confined to those who use social media. A protocol may need to be designed by each practice to optimize the continuation of care and of medication schedules during any future pandemics.