The European journal of general practice
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Worldwide, there are concerns about declining mental health of children and young people (CYP). ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly increase consultation rates for psychosocial problems in CYP. The consultation rates increased, especially in adolescent girls and young women.
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Reducing avoidable hospital admissions is a global healthcare priority, with optimal primary care recognised as pivotal for achieving this objective. However, in developing systems like China, where primary care is evolving without compulsory gatekeeping, the relationship between patient-perceived primary care quality and hospital utilisation remains underexplored. ⋯ Enhanced patient-perceived quality of primary care in China is associated with a reduction in self-reported overall hospital utilisation, including outpatient visits and hospital admissions. However, better continuity of care may be associated with increased ED visits. Further research is warranted for precise insights and validation of these findings.
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Review Case Reports
Navigating sarcoidosis: Recognizing, managing, and supporting patients in primary care.
Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystem inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology, characterised by noncaseating granulomas and a variable clinical presentation. Despite its global distribution, sarcoidosis is relatively rare, with the highest prevalence in northern Europe. This poses challenges for primary care physicians due to its broad spectrum of symptoms, from organ-specific manifestations to general complaints like fatigue and concentration difficulties. ⋯ Primary care physicians play a critical role in managing sarcoidosis, particularly in early recognition and monitoring. Given the absence of standardised treatment protocols, a flexible, holistic approach that includes psychosocial support is essential. This article provides a practical framework for general practitioners to address the challenges of sarcoidosis management and improve patient outcomes.
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Observational Study
Monitoring COVID-19 in Belgian general practice: A tool for syndromic surveillance based on electronic health records.
COVID-19 may initially manifest as flu-like symptoms. As such, general practitioners (GPs) will likely to play an important role in monitoring the pandemic through syndromic surveillance. ⋯ The syndromic surveillance tool for COVID-19 in primary care provides rapidly available data useful in all phases of the COVID-19 pandemic to support data-driven decision-making. Potential enhancements were identified for a prospective surveillance tool.
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Germany is challenged by an increasing shortage in general practice services, especially in non-urban areas. Task shifting from general practitioners (GPs) to other health professionals may improve practice efficiency to address this mismatch. ⋯ This study describes GPs' motives and beliefs towards task shifting in non-urban Germany. Identifying younger GPs and those participating in the GP-centred care programme as particularly endorsing may help design future interventions aiming to improve efficiency in general practice in non-urban Germany.