The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Remote consulting was rolled out across general practice in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although most consultations are carried out safely, there are some cases where remote care may contribute to adverse outcomes. ⋯ Analysis of complaints gives pointers for action on improving awareness and training for GPs and practice teams around risks when consulting remotely.
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In the UK, women from ethnically diverse and socioeconomically deprived groups are at increased risk of underdiagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and low uptake for breast cancer screening. Raising awareness for CVD and breast cancer screening in partnership with salons can improve early detection, management and uptake of screening facilitating women and the NHS. ⋯ Participatory approaches can support the development of educational community-based interventions aiming to establish partnerships between community assets and health systems for CVD and breast cancer awareness and prevention.
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Primary care professionals deliver the majority of end-of-life care to patients. However, extensive pressures and constraints can contribute to variable and substandard care quality. We will report on the preliminary results from an independent evaluation of the 'Daffodil Standards for Advanced Serious Illness and End-of-Life Care', created by the Royal College of General Practitioners and Marie Curie. ⋯ The results will be used to inform and refine the design illustrative case studies to capture best available learning and identify exemplars of best practice for later phases of the study.
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People with diabetes who do not attend their annual review appointments often have poorer glycaemic control and increased complication rates. A postal kit for self-collection of blood tests, urine samples, and anthropometric data may facilitate remote annual reviews and improve uptake. ⋯ Postal kits for annual reviews were well-received by people living with diabetes. Designed well, they have the potential to overcome far more than just the physical barriers to annual review attendance.
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A polygenic risk score (PRS) quantifies the aggregated effects of common genetic variants in an individual. A 'personalised breast cancer risk assessment' combines PRS with other genetic and non-genetic risk factors to offer risk-stratified screening and interventions. Large-scale studies are evaluating the clinical utility and feasibility of implementing risk-stratified screening; however, GPs' views remain largely unknown. ⋯ The results suggest limited knowledge of PRS and risk-stratified screening among GPs. Training - preferably using online learning formats - was identified as the top priority for future implementation. GPs felt positive about the potential impact of risk-stratified screening; however, there was hesitance and disagreement towards a low-risk screening pathway.