Articles: health.
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Self-harm is a growing problem in young people. GPs are usually the first point of healthcare contact for young people aged 16-25 years, after self-harm. GPs can experience barriers to supporting young people and behaviour change theory can help to understand these, and the influences on, GP behaviour. ⋯ GPs are supported by their practice teams to support young people after self-harm, but a lack of time hinders opportunities to do so. Future effective GP-led interventions may improve GP motivation to support young people after self-harm.
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Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a significant global health concern, yet comprehensive population-based studies remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the hospitalization rates, surgical trends, mortality, and reintervention rates for ruptured (r-AAA) and nonruptured (nr-AAA) AAA using data from a national health insurance database. ⋯ AAA predominantly affects older individuals, and the annual incidence shows a declining trend. Since the introduction of EVAR, its use has steadily increased while OSR rates have decreased. Although both EVAR and OSR are associated with reduced mortality in patients with r-AAA, OSR is linked to superior long-term survival outcomes.
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Living in socioeconomically deprived areas is associated with shorter lives and worse health. GPs working in these areas face additional challenges compared with those in more affluent locations. ⋯ Improving the environmental conditions, empowering individuals, and investing in communities are essential factors to achieving health. The current model of providing reactionary acute care is leading to GPs experiencing powerlessness and feelings of helplessness at the Deep End.
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There is much concern that substance use treatment programs are rarely integrated with smoking cessation programs. Here, the first national statistics are presented on the connection between heavy vs. light smoking and the opioid epidemic. ⋯ As nations deal with the opioid epidemic, integrating smoking cessation programs into substance abuse treatment programs appears prudent.
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Text messaging has emerged as a popular strategy to engage patients after hospital discharge. Little is known about how patients use these programs and what types of needs are addressed through this approach. ⋯ The needs identified via an automated texting program were concentrated in three areas relevant to primary care practice and within nursing scope of practice. This program can serve as a model for health systems looking to support transitions through an operationally efficient approach, and the findings of this analysis can inform future iterations of this type of program.