General Practice - Science topic

Synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry are the most significant fields of research in chemistry where 4-arylbutan-2-ones find applications by allowing access to chemical entities otherwise difficult to synthesize, or in the de novo development of drug candidates. Structure-aided design that was based on previous results from our group...

Introduction Psychological services are typically offered via specialized mental health services, which are often overwhelmed with long waitlists. To address this need and provide patients with a service characterized by shorter waiting times and increased accessibility, online Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was established in...

Low integrity is a challenge for any organization. However, most organizations emphasize integrity without explaining what is required of an individual with high integrity. Exhibiting high integrity is necessary for academics; yet, the level of academic integrity remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the integrity leve...

Background Triage and clinical consultations increasingly occur remotely. We aimed to learn why safety incidents occur in remote encounters and how to prevent them. Setting and sample UK primary care. 95 safety incidents (complaints, settled indemnity claims and reports) involving remote interactions. Separately, 12 general practices followed 2021...

Most books on young people in the global South focus on how Gen Z consumes content and are thus receivers of global cultural flows. Gen Z, Digital Media, and Transcultural Lives: At Home in the World offers narrative exploration of how Gen Z in the global South uses digital media and technologies to not only engage with global cultural content, but...

Objectives At the time of the survey, just over 2000 pharmacists were employed in UK general practice. Little is known about their influence on prescribing, and more specifically, the extent of their use of Audit and Feedback (A&F), an evidence-based method for behaviour change. This study aimed to explore pharmacists’ current influence on prescrib...

Introduction Various developments result in increasing workloads in general practices. New models of care and a restructuring of the division of tasks could provide relief. One approach is to extend the delegation of medical tasks from general practitioners (GPs) to medical practice assistants (MPAs). So far, there has been a lack of information ab...

Background: The International Classification of Diseases-10th revision (ICD-10) surrogates of the modified frailty index (mFI) have been defined in recent research. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of these ICD-10 surrogates and their association with hospital referral in an older population from Germany. Methods: The present sample i...

The article reveals the attitudes of general nursing students of Alytaus kolegija / University of Applied Sciences towards euthanasia. The last two decades of this century have seen an increasing number of countries where euthanasia has become legal, which has led to a growing number of disagreements between the health care community, politicians,...

Aims: The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of physical and mental health comorbidities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Germany, in order to better understand the complex clinical picture and its consequences. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was based on data from the IQVIA Disease Analyzer database and...

Background We aimed to identify interventions used to implement antimicrobial stewardship practices among hospitalized patients in least-developed countries. Methods The research team searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies of AMS interventions in the least developed and low-income countries, publish...

Zusammenfassung Die digitale Transformation findet im Gesundheitswesen statt und erfordert eine um digitale Kompetenzen erweiterte berufliche Qualifikation. Einige Fakultäten haben hierfür erste Curricula implementiert. Für den primärärztlich orientierten Brandenburgischen Modellstudiengang Medizin (BMM) wird ein angepasstes Curriculum unter Berück...

Importance: Evidence regarding audiovestibular adverse events post COVID-19 vaccination to date has been inconclusive regarding a potential etiological association. This study used a multi-data source approach to assess incidence of these events following COVID-19 vaccination. Objective: To determine if there was an increase in audiovestibular adve...

Objective Pharmacists are increasingly joining the general practice skill-mix. Research is still in relative infancy, but barriers and facilitators to their integration are emerging, as well as indications that pharmacists’ skillset remain underutilised. This study explores first-hand experiences and perspectives among general practice teams of the...

Background Combining effective eHealth programs with face-to-face consultations in general practice may help general practitioners (GPs) to care for cancer survivors. Method This study protocol describes a two-armed randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate (cost-)effectiveness of a blended intervention integrating the Cancer Aftercare Guide (C...

Background Globally, the COVID pandemic has caused unprecedented strain in healthcare systems, but little is known about how it affected patients needing palliative and end-of-life care from general practitioners (GPs). Aim To evaluate the impact of the pandemic on primary care service use in the last three months of life, including consultations...

Background Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis and is almost exclusively managed in primary care, however the course and severity of the condition is variable and poorly characterised. This research aims improve understanding about the frequency of, and factors associated with, gout flares in the UK and characterise the factors associate...

Background: Ophthalmology is essential for primary and specialty care physicians, as eye complaints are common, accounting for a sizable proportion of general practice consultations and emergency department visits. Fundamental ophthalmology knowledge is also relevant to other specialty fields. Thus, medical schools must provide effective undergradu...

Background The DAWN Antivirals trial was a multicentric, randomised placebo-controlled trial evaluating antiviral medication for COVID-19 in general practice. The trial was prematurely terminated because of insufficient recruitment. Aim To explore which factors contributed to the premature termination. Design & setting General practice in Belgium...

Objective To compare the cytological characteristics of bone marrow cells in patients with sepsis with or without thrombocytopenia and their clinical significance. Methods Ninety-one patients diagnosed with sepsis in the Department of General Practice, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between February 2016 and December 2022 w...

Objective To explore pharmacy users’ perceptions of current and future provision of community pharmacy services in England. Methods Qualitative, reconvened focus groups were conducted with community pharmacy users. An initial focus group explored preliminary views. Participants were then given an evidence brief describing community pharmacy before...

Objectives In 2018, NHS England mandated that all patients in England should be able to access general practice services outside of ordinary hours. While some patients would access additional hours at their own practice, others would need supra-practice level provision – that is, they would be seen in a different location and by a different care te...

Background Postgraduate supervision takes place within complex training environments, where experiences are shaped by the socio-cultural context and wider profession, and where tensions permeate. Bordin’s working alliance-based model of supervision suggests that quality relationships encompass agreement on the goals and tasks of supervision, in the...

Introduction As health reforms move Ireland from a mixed public-private system toward universal healthcare, it is important to understand variations in prescribing practice for patients with differing health cover and socioeconomic status. This study aims to determine how prescribing patterns for patients aged ≥ 65 years in primary care in Ireland...

Background Self-care is crucial in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. It is important to identify patients who need support with self-care. Objectives This study introduces a self-care preparedness index (SCPI) and examines its associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and other outcomes. Methods A cross-sectional st...

Background The United Kingdom health system is challenged with retaining doctors entering specialty training directly after their second foundation year. Improving doctors’ training experience during the foundation programme may aid such retention. The Longitudinal Integrated Foundation Training (LIFT) pilot scheme aimed to provide a programme that...

The overarching objective of the audit was to generate practical and evidence-based recommendations to: address the bottlenecks in the criminal justice system which contribute to overcrowding in correctional centres; improve the respect of inmates’ human rights; and enhance the provision of ‘correctional services’, following the enactment of the Za...

Background Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography for high-risk populations is being implemented in the UK. However, inclusive identification and invitation of the high-risk population is a major challenge for equitable lung screening implementation. Primary care electronic health records (EHRs) can be used to identify lung screeni...

Objective To determine whether a standardised and manualised care intervention in men in primary care could achieve superior improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) compared with usual care. Design Cluster randomised controlled trial. Setting 30 National Health Service general practice sites in England. Participants Sites were randomi...

Background Estimates suggest that 1 in 100 people in the UK live with facial scarring. Despite this incidence, psychological support is limited. Aims The aim of this study was to strengthen the case for improving such support by determining the incidence and risk factors for anxiety and depression disorders in patients with facial scarring. Metho...

Objectives Investigate trends in continuity of care with a general practitioner (GP) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identify whether continuity of care is associated with consultation mode, controlling for other patient and practice characteristics. Design Retrospective cross-sectional and longitudinal observational studies. Setting Pri...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is having an impact on every aspect of contemporary life. Artificial intelligence (AI) is being increasingly widely used in an effort to imitate human cognitive abilities via applications that make people's lives simpler and more efficient. Artificial intelligence is also being used in the education industry to enhance...

Hill paddy cultivation is popular among the native people living in the eastern part of Malaysia, The Island of Borneo. A preliminary study focused on the background and farming practice of the hill paddy among smallholders in Sg. Asap, Belaga Sarawak (East Malaysia) is an initiative to enhance hill paddy cultivation and pursue self-sufficiency in...

Objective This study aims to evaluate the usage and implementation of video remote (VR) interpreting and telephone remote (TR) interpreting in primary healthcare settings. Design This publication forms part of a larger three-pronged study in which we compared both remote interpreting modalities to each other and to a control group. This paper conv...

Objectives: This study aimed to comprehend the entrepreneurial and abroad practice mindset among Pakistani medical undergraduates and the factors influencing their choices. Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving 401 students from various medical and dental colleges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, was conducted. Participants completed a questi...

Background Subclinical hypothyroidism is diagnosed when serum thyroid stimulating hormone levels are higher whilst free thyroxine levels remain within their respective reference ranges. These reference ranges are uniformly applied in all adults, despite serum thyroid stimulating hormone levels naturally increasing with age. Research has found that...

Background Australia persistently has one of the highest rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the world. Australia’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) sends a biennial Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)—the ‘NBCSP kit’—to everyone eligible for the programme between 50 and 74 years old; however, participation in the programme is low, espe...

Background The study and practice of medicine is known to contribute to burnout in medical students and junior doctors. There exists limited data on the degree of mental health burden for Australian medical students and doctors-in-training (DiT) Objectives The aim of this scoping review is to explore the impact of medical training on mental health...

In recent years, the integration of big data in the field of food and agriculture research has brought about a paradigm shift, redefining traditional practices and enhancing productivity across the entire supply chain. This comprehensive exploration delves into the transformative impact of big data on various aspects of the food and agriculture ind...

Objectives The number of UK graduates choosing General Practice training remains significantly lower than the current numbers required to meet the demands of the service. This work aims to explore medical students’ perceptions of General Practice, experiences which lead to the development of these perceptions, and the ultimate impact of these on ca...

Background Antipsychotics are increasingly prescribed to children and adolescents worldwide, but little is known about reasons for prescribing. We aimed to examine patterns of paediatric antipsychotic prescribing in Australian primary care services in 2011 and 2017, including diagnoses, sociodemographic characteristics, off‐label prescribing, and p...

Background There is evidence that engaging in research is directly associated with better performance. If this relationship is to be strengthened, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms which might underlie that relationship. Aim To explore the perspectives of staff and wider stakeholders about mechanisms by which research activity might imp...

Background: System problems known as operational failures can impact greatly on the work of general practitioners (GPs), with negative consequences for patient and professional experience, efficiency, and effectiveness. Many operational failures are tractable to improvement, but which should be prioritised is less clear. Aim: To build consensus amo...

The majority of workers may be exposed to a range of occupational hazards at their industrial workplaces, which include cuts and lacerations. Accidents related to the handling of sharp objects account for a considerable percentage of workplace injuries. Generally, cut injuries account for more than 80% of all hand injuries. Therefore, ensuring the...

Background: People with severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD- combinations of homelessness, substance misuse, violence, abuse and poor mental health) have high health needs and poor access to primary care. Aim: To explore perceptions and experiences of improving access to general practice for people with SMD in healthcare staff and people with liv...

Background: The chest radiograph (CXR) is the most frequently performed radiological examination worldwide. The increasing volume of CXRs performed in hospitals causes reporting backlogs and increased waiting times for patients, potentially compromising timely clinical intervention and patient safety. Implementing computer-aided detection (CAD) art...

The abandonment of smallholder agriculture and the expansion of conventional intensive agriculture pose a potential threat to the multifunctionality of agriculture. The adoption of intensive conventional practices generates negative outcomes, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and degradation of land, water, and ecosyste...

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of psychoenergetic energy in litchi as positive and negative thoughts using a simple meditation technique at ICAR-NRC on Litchi, Muzaffarpur. The plant produced 24.75 g of fruit given positive energy, while the plant with negative thought energy produced 22.12 g of fruit. The fruit and seed weight in...

Objective To assess the feasibility of identifying markers of health-seeking behaviour and healthcare access in UK electronic health records (EHR), for identifying populations at risk of poor health outcomes, and adjusting for confounding in epidemiological studies. Design Cross sectional observational study using the Clinical Practice Research Dat...

Background Unnecessary delays in patient discharge from hospital outpatient clinics have direct consequences for timely access of new patients and the length of outpatient waiting times. The aim of this study was to gain better understanding of hospital doctors’ and general practitioners’ perspectives of the barriers and facilitators when dischargi...

Recently, hybrid entanglement (HE), which involves entangling a qubit with a coherent state, has demonstrated superior performance in various quantum information processing tasks, particularly in quantum key distribution [arXiv:2305.18906 (2023)]. Despite its theoretical advantages, the practical generation of these states in the laboratory has bee...

Background Antidepressants are licensed for use in depressive disorders, but non-response and poor adherence to treatment affect a considerable number of patients. Pre-clinical and clinical evidence suggest that statins can augment the effects of antidepressants. However, the acceptability and tolerability of combining statins with antidepressants...

Background Emotional concerns (defined as any expression of low mood, anxiety or psychosocial stress) are an important part of the biopsychosocial care model used in modern medical practice. Previous work has demonstrated variable engagement with emotional concerns and that improved communication has been associated with reductions in emotional dis...

Background Pharmacists are increasingly incorporated into general practice teams globally and have been shown to positively impact patient outcomes. However, little research to date has focused on determining general practitioners’ (GPs’) perceptions of practice-based pharmacist roles in countries yet to establish such roles. Objectives To explore...

Background: Sleep disturbance (SD) is a prevalent condition among people living with dementia (PLwD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Its assessment and management within primary care is complex due to the comorbidities, older age and cognitive impairment typical of this patient group. Aim: This study aimed to explore how primary care clinicians...

Background Increasing numbers of family carers are providing informal care in community settings. This creates a number of challenges because family carers are at risk of poor physical and psychological health outcomes, with consequences both for themselves and those for whom they provide care. General Practitioners (GPs), who play a central role i...

Background Upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) are common in general practice, and inappropriate antibiotic prescribing remains a major concern that contributes to antimicrobial resistance. This prospective study aims to examine the factors influencing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for URIs in general practice. Methods The study was c...

Classroom interactions emerging from socioscientific argumentation may be incompatible with the traditional definitions of learning, thus creating tension and potentially undermining its implementation. Leveraging existing literature, we identify argumentative talk that shifts away from scientific content and toward subjective claims, as well as in...

Objectives To estimate the incidence of adverse events of interest (AEIs) after receiving their first and second doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations, and to report the safety profile differences between the different COVID-19 vaccines. Design We used a self-controlled case series design to estimate the relative incidence (RI)...

Background: In the landscape of healthcare quality assessment, understanding patient experiences is vital. Positive patient experience correlates with high-quality clinical outcomes and reduced healthcare utilization thus, improving access to general practice is one of the current priorities in numerous healthcare systems. This study aimed to explo...

The COVID-19 pandemic instigated a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery with a rapid adoption of technology-enabled models of care, particularly within the general practice primary care setting. The emergence of the Metaverse and its associated technology mediums, specifically extended reality (XR) technology, presents a promising opportunity for...

Objectives To assess the relative productivity of primary medical services in England and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on productivity levels. Setting Primary medical services for 59 million patients (98% of the population in England), in 101 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), across two time periods: period 1, pre-pandemic, April to Dec...

Objectives To evaluate whether a multimodal intervention in general practice reduces the proportion of second line antibiotic prescriptions and the overall proportion of antibiotic prescriptions for uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. Design Parallel, cluster randomised, controlled trial. Setting General practices in five regions in...

Background Learning by concordance (LbC) is a recent approach that introduces learners to the complexity and uncertainty of clinical practice. Some data on LbC suggest that it stimulates reflection in future clinicians. We developed an online LbC training program on electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation in general practice at the University of Str...

Aim To explore how nurses working in general practice experienced remote and technology‐mediated working during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Design Exploratory qualitative study with nursing team members working in general practices in England and national nurse leaders. Methods Data were collected between April and August 2022. Forty participants took...

Context: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the second-most common cause of health care-associated infections and are responsible for postoperative illness leading to increased morbidity and mortality. There are various preventive strategies against SSIs such as proper surgical technique, strict asepsis in the operating theater, control of infecti...

Background Long Covid, the patient-preferred term, describes symptoms persisting after an acute episode of Covid-19 infection. Symptoms in children and young people (CYP) can affect daily routine, with broader impacts on education, health-related quality of life, and social activities, which may have long term effects on health and wellbeing. Aim...

Background Validity of exposure and outcome measures in electronic medical records is vital to ensure robust, comparable study findings however, despite validation studies, definitions of variables used often differ. Using exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as an example, we investigated the impact of potential misclassif...