Articles: pandemics.
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Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Patient perspectives on diabetes shared medical appointments before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Context: Shared Medical Appointments for diabetes (SMAs) are an evidence-based strategy improve health outcomes. However, which elements of SMAs are important remain unknown. Invested in Diabetes studied two implementation approaches (standardized [STD] vs. patient-driven [PTD]), using a curriculum focused on mental health and skill building in addition to diabetes self-management. ⋯ The peer mentor role was not always well received, likely due to variations in the peer mentor. Teaching style was very important to satisfaction, and all patients wanted guest speakers with varied expertise. A virtual format was acceptable. .
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Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
The role of Canadian family physicians in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Context: In Canada, most medical care is delivered through front line, first contact primary care. As nations traverse the most significant health event in a century, it is important to understand how primary care has been engaged in the challenge. Objective: Assess the patterns of direct clinical patient care involvement of Canadian family physicians (FPs) in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by province, age, remuneration model, and practice setting. ⋯ Conclusions: While most family physicians have been involved in the COVID-19 response, discrepancies exist across jurisdiction, ages, remuneration types, and practice models. These results suggest that there were obstacles to the full involvement of Canada's primary care system in the response to the pandemic. Evidence generated by this study points to factors that could enable a more responsive future primary health care system.
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Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Patients' experience with virtual care during COVID-19 pandemic in primary care practice.
Context: The advent of COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 galvanized primary care practices into adopting telemedicine to be able to continue delivering care to patients safely. As recipients of care delivered virtually, capturing patients' experience is key to evaluating its success and shortcomings. Objective: To describe patients' experience and perceptions with virtual care during COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Interestingly, 84% (n=496) of responders had smart phones and only 28% had computers with video cameras. Conclusion: Patients have varying experiences in virtual care which should be taken into consideration as this method of care delivery becomes more integrated into primary care practice. Majority of patients surveyed had access to smartphones than computers with video camera which creates an opportunity for exploring the use of this modality to expand care delivered through telemedicine.
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Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
One year of COVID: primary care learning experiences in a health system.
Context: Patients and communities consider their primary care clinicians (PCC's) to be their most trusted source of information. During the first 12 months of the COVID pandemic, initially reliable, accurate information was scare, evolving, and at times conflicting. From testing, public health prevention, treatment, and vaccinations clinicians had to learn, apply, and convey this information honestly and openly. ⋯ Conclusions: During the pandemic, primary care clinicians provided a broad array of clinical services, and are a source of information for colleagues, patients, and communities. They rely on a broad array of sources for reliable information, mostly relationship-based, not formal CME. The trusted relationships primary care clinicians have with others throughout their communities was essential in promulgating accurate reliable information during the first year of the pandemic.
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Annals of family medicine · Apr 2022
Mental health impact of COVID-19 on family doctors in Canada: one year after.
Context: A year after the pandemic outbreak, primary care providers continue to face extreme psychological pressure. This study gauges the mental health and burnout levels of family physicians during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Objective: Assess the levels of personal, professional and patient-related burnout of family physicians (FPs) in the response to the pandemic and explore demographic and work-related factors that may influence burnout levels. ⋯ Conclusions: Roughly 1-in-4 FPs in Canada are currently experiencing high or severe personal and work-related burnout. Compared with the survey results a year prior, the numbers are climbing rapidly, reflecting the serious challenges FPs facing during the pandemic. This study was designed to contribute to a better understanding of the extent of the problem, contributing factors and to assist in considering approaches to build effective support systems to improve the mental health of FPs.