The European journal of general practice
-
To better manage patients with a wide range of mental health problems, general practitioners would benefit from diagnostically accurate and time-efficient screening tools that comprehensively assess mental illness. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to identify screening tools that either take a multiple-mental disorder or a transdiagnostic approach. As primary and secondary outcomes, diagnostic accuracy and time efficiency were investigated. ⋯ The eleven identified screening tools can support general practitioners to identify patients with mental health problems. However, there was great heterogeneity concerning their diagnostic scope of psychopathology. Further screening tools for primary care are needed that target broad constructs of mental illness, such as transdiagnostic factors or personality dysfunction.
-
Task shifting from general practitioners (GPs) to other health professionals could solve the increased workload, but an overview of the evidence is lacking for out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC). ⋯ The level of safety and efficiency of care provided by other health professionals in OOH-PC seems like that of GPs, although they mainly see patients presenting with less urgent and less complex health problems.
-
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.
-
Multicenter Study
Preventing cardiovascular disease in at-risk patients: Results of a pilot behavioural health programme in general practice.
The 'High-Risk Prevention Programme' (HRPP) involved a six-week health behaviour change programme based in general practices and aimed to address cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in disadvantaged Irish communities. ⋯ The HRPP was a much-needed pilot intervention, and positive results were seen in both GPN and HPP arms, especially with regards to weight loss, exercise, and dietary improvements. Future definitive trials of the HRPP are likely to be effective and acceptable in terms of combatting these issues among high-risk patients.
-
The use of generic drugs is a way for healthcare systems to reduce costs, particularly in ambulatory care. Several studies suggest that the prescriber's speciality is associated with the use of generic drugs, and that substitutable drugs prescribed by General Practitioners (GPs) are more often generic, but this association has never been studied in France. In the French legislative context, except in rare situations, all substitutable drugs prescribed should be dispensed in generic form. ⋯ Substitutable drugs prescribed by French private GPs are more often dispensed in generic form than those from other private ambulatory specialties. To understand this result and optimise the use of generic drugs in outpatient settings, we need to study the different stages of drug use, from prescription by the physician to dispensing by the pharmacist and acceptance by the patient.