Primary health care research & development
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Prim Health Care Res Dev · Apr 2013
A questionnaire survey of patients and carers of patients prescribed Sativex as an unlicensed medicine.
To identify the areas of daily function most affected by the introduction of Sativex, a cannabis-based medicine, and the impact on caregivers and people with multiple sclerosis (MS). ⋯ The response rate was 57%, with 124 questionnaires returned. The majority of respondents and their caregivers reported improvements across a range of daily functional activities, alongside a reduction in the use of concomitant anti-spasticity medication and in the use of other healthcare resources.
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Prim Health Care Res Dev · Apr 2013
Feasibility and acceptability of routine human immunodeficiency virus testing in general practice: your views.
Early diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to a decreased morbidity and mortality. General practice offers an important window for earlier diagnosis. The British HIV Association produced guidelines in 2008 advocating an increase in HIV testing, with specific references to primary care. ⋯ Almost half the respondents were not aware of the guidelines; having read them, the majority felt that implementation is feasible. This demonstrates the necessity for better dissemination of these guidelines. This study found that the main barrier to performing an HIV test was felt to be patient acceptance, a contradiction to findings from recent pilot studies.
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Prim Health Care Res Dev · Apr 2013
Conceptions of daily life in men living with a woman suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
To describe conceptions of daily life in men living with a woman suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in different stages of the disease. ⋯ Two main descriptive categories were found: (1) unchanged life situation where no support was needed; (2) changed life situation related to severity of COPD, where support was needed. The categories were described from the perspective 'ME and my spouse'. Even in their caregiving situation, the men continued with their own life and activities and did not put themselves in second place. No support was needed from healthcare or municipality when the women had mild COPD, but this changed when the COPD progressed. The men felt that daily life was burdened, restricted and the partner relationship was affected, even if the disease had not reached the final stage. The COPD forced them gradually into a caregiving role, and their daily life changed. They become more of a caregiver than a spouse. The men experienced lack of knowledge and support, and they felt that health professionals and municipality did not care about them.
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Prim Health Care Res Dev · Apr 2013
'It's coming at things from a very different standpoint': evaluating the 'Supporting Self-Care in General Practice Programme' in NHS East of England.
To undertake a service evaluation of the NHS East of England Supporting Self-Care in General Practice programme. ⋯ This evaluation demonstrates that training around clinician change can be effective in shifting service delivery when sat within a cultural framework that genuinely situates patients at the centre of consultations and practice activity.