Journal of general internal medicine
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Few patient engagement tools incorporate the complex patient experiences, contexts, and workflows that limit depression treatment implementation. ⋯ We provide an example of leveraging UCD to design/adapt a real-world, patient experience and workflow-aligned patient activation tool in diverse populations.
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With annual point-in-time counts indicating a rise in unsheltered homelessness in the United States, much attention has been paid to how to best provide care to this population. Mobile medical units (MMUs) have been utilized by many programs. However, little is known regarding the evidence behind their effectiveness. ⋯ Outcome measures utilized by studies include MMU services provided (58%), patient demographics (34%), health outcomes (16%), patient-centered measures (14%), healthcare utilization (10%) and cost analysis (6%). The studies that exist suggest MMUs can facilitate effective treatment of substance use disorders, provision of primary care, and services for severe mental illness among people experiencing homelessness. MMUs have potential to provide community-based healthcare services in settings where homeless populations reside, but the paucity of randomized controlled trials indicates further research is needed to understand if MMUs are more effective than other care delivery models tailored to populations experiencing homelessness.
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Multicenter Study
Differences in Primary Care Follow-up After Acute Care Discharge Within and Across Health Systems: a Retrospective Cohort Study.
Timely primary care follow-up after acute care discharge may improve outcomes. ⋯ Patients discharged from a hospital closely affiliated with their primary care clinic were more likely to receive timely follow-up than those discharged from other hospitals within and outside their health system. Improving care transitions requires coordination across both care settings and health systems.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized Trial of Information for Older Women About Cessation of Breast Cancer Screening Invitations.
Older women receive no information about why Australia's breast screening program (BreastScreen) invitations cease after 74 years. We tested how providing older women with the rationale for breast screening cessation impacted informed choice (adequate knowledge; screening attitudes aligned with intention). ⋯ Providing information to older women about the rationale for breast cancer screening cessation increased informed decision-making in a hypothetical scenario. This study is an important first step in improving messaging provided by national cancer screening providers direct to older adults. Further research is needed to assess the impact of different elements of the intervention and the impact of providing this information in clinical practice, with more diverse samples.