The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Review templates are commonly used in long-term condition (LTC) consultations to standardise care for patients and promote consistent data recording. However, templates may affect interactions during the review and, potentially, inhibit patient-centred care. ⋯ Future research should evaluate health, as well as process, outcomes. The potential benefits of templates in improving documentation should be balanced against concerns that 'tick boxes' may override patient agendas, unless templates are designed to promote patient-centred care.
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Observational Study
FORM-2C (Frequency of Renal Monitoring - Creatinine and Cystatin C): An observational cohort study of primary care patients with reduced eGFR.
Monitoring is the mainstay of chronic kidney disease management in primary care; however, there is little evidence about the best way to do this. ⋯ In the primary analysis neither eGFR estimated from serum creatinine nor from serum cystatin C predicted future change in kidney function, partly due to small changes during 2 years. In some secondary analyses there was a suggestion that serum cystatin C was a more useful biomarker to estimate eGFR, especially in those with a baseline eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2.
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Primary care networks (PCNs) are financially incentivised groupings of general practices in the English NHS. Their purpose is to deliver a number of policy goals set out in The NHS Long Term Plan. Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have a role in their establishment, support, and oversight. ⋯ CCGs are well placed to understand the complexities of local systems and to facilitate PCNs and working practices between wider system partners. It is important that this local role is not lost as CCGs continue to merge and cover larger geographical populations.