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We lead multidisciplinary applied research and training to rethink the way health care is delivered in general practice and across the community.
Understanding Measurement of Postural Hypotension (UMPH): a nationwide survey of general practice in England.
Background Postural hypotension (PH) is associated with excess mortality, falls and cognitive decline. PH is poorly recorded in routine general practice (practice) records. Few practice studies have explored measurement and diagnosis of PH. Aim To understand how PH is measured, diagnosed and managed in practice. Design and setting Online survey of practice staff in England. Method Clinical Research Networks distributed the survey to practices, seeking individual responses from any clinical staff involved in routine blood pressure (BP) measurement. Responses were analysed according to role and demographic data using descriptive statistics. Multivariable modelling of undertaking postural BP measurements was performed. Results 703 responses were received from 243 practices (mean practice-level response rate 17%). Half (362; 51%) of respondents were doctors, 196 (28%) practice nurses and 77 (11%) healthcare assistants (HCAs). Eight percent did not routinely check for PH, usually citing time constraints. For the remaining 92%, postural symptoms were the predominant reason for checking (97% respondents); only 24% cited any other guideline indication for PH testing. 77% used sit-to-stand BP measurements; only 25% measured standing BP for more than one minute. On regression modelling, other professionals tested less for PH than doctors (Odds ratios: nurses 0.323 (95% confidence interval 0.117 to 0.894), HCAs 0.102 (0.032 to 0.325), pharmacists 0.986 (0.024 to 0.412)). Conclusion Awareness of reasons, besides symptoms, and adherence to guidelines for PH testing, are low. Time is the key barrier to improved testing for PH. Clarity on pragmatic methods of measuring PH in practice would also facilitate measurement uptake.
How, why and when are delayed (back-up) antibiotic prescriptions used in primary care? A realist review integrating concepts of uncertainty in healthcare
Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a global patient safety priority and inappropriate antimicrobial use is a key contributing factor. Evidence have shown that delayed (back-up) antibiotic prescriptions (DP) are an effective and safe strategy for reducing unnecessary antibiotic consumption but its use is controversial. Methods: We conducted a realist review to ask why, how, and in what contexts general practitioners (GPs) use DP. We searched five electronic databases for relevant articles and included DP-related data from interviews with healthcare professionals in a related study. Data were analysed using a realist theory-driven approach – theorising which context(s) influenced (mechanisms) resultant outcome(s) (context-mechanism-outcome-configurations: CMOCs). Results: Data were included from 76 articles and 41 interviews to develop a program theory comprising nine key and 56 related CMOCs. These explain the reasons for GPs’ tolerance of risk to different uncertainties and how these may interact with GPs’ work environment, self-efficacy and perceived patient concordance to make using DP as a safety-net or social tool more or less likely, at a given time-point. For example, when a GP uses clinical scores or diagnostic tests: a clearly high or low score/test result may mitigate scientific uncertainty and lead to an immediate or no antibiotic decision; an intermediary result may provoke hermeneutic (interpretation-related) uncertainty and lead to DP becoming preferred and used as a safety net. Our program theory explains how DP can be used to mitigate some uncertainties but also provoke or exacerbate others. Conclusion: This review explains how, why and in what contexts GPs are more or less likely to use DP, as well as various uncertainties GPs face which DP may mitigate or provoke. We recommend that efforts to plan and implement interventions to optimise antibiotic prescribing in primary care consider these uncertainties and the contexts when DP may be (dis)preferred over other interventions to reduce antibiotic prescribing. We also recommend the following and have included example activities for: (i) reducing demand for immediate antibiotics; (ii) framing DP as an ‘active’ prescribing option; (iii) documenting the decision-making process around DP; and (iv) facilitating social and system support.
Excess burden of antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections: evidence from a multicentre retrospective cohort study in Chile, 2018–2022
Background: Antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections (ARB BSI) cause an enormous disease and economic burden. We assessed the impact of ARB BSI caused by high- and critical-priority pathogens in hospitalised Chilean patients compared to BSI caused by susceptible bacteria. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from 2018 to 2022 in three Chilean hospitals and measured the association of ARB BSI with in-hospital mortality, length of hospitalisation (LOS), and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We focused on BSI caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacterales, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We addressed confounding using propensity scores, inverse probability weighting, and multivariate regressions. We stratified by community- and hospital-acquired BSI and assessed total hospital and productivity costs. Findings: We studied 1218 adult patients experiencing 1349 BSI episodes, with 47.3% attributed to ARB. Predominant pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (33% Methicillin-resistant ‘MRSA’), Enterobacterales (50% Carbapenem-resistant ‘CRE’), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (65% Carbapenem-resistant ‘CRPA’). Approximately 80% of BSI were hospital-acquired. ARB was associated with extended LOS (incidence risk ratio IRR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.05–1.24), increased ICU admissions (odds ratio OR = 1.25; 1.07–1.46), and higher mortality (OR = 1.42, 1.20–1.68) following index blood culture across all BSI episodes. In-hospital mortality risk, adjusted for time-varying and fixed confounders, was 1.35-fold higher (1.16–1.58) for ARB patients, with higher hazard ratios for hospital-acquired MRSA and CRE at 1.37 and 1.48, respectively. Using a societal perspective and a 5% discount rate, we estimated excess costs for ARB at $12,600 per patient, with an estimated annual excess burden of 2270 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and $9.6 (5.0–16.4) million. Interpretation: It is urgent to develop and implement interventions to reduce the burden of ARB BSIs, particularly from MRSA and CRE. Funding: Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo ANID, Chile.
Implementation framework for AI deployment at scale in healthcare systems
Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health technologies are increasingly used in the medical field. Despite promises of leading the future of personalized medicine and better clinical outcomes, implementation of AI faces barriers for deployment at scale. We introduce a novel implementation framework that can facilitate digital health designers, developers, patient groups, policymakers, and other stakeholders, to co-create and solve issues throughout the life cycle of designing, developing, deploying, monitoring, and maintaining algorithmic models. This framework targets health systems that integrate multiple machine learning (ML) models with various modalities. This design thinking approach promotes clinical utility beyond model prediction, combining privacy preservation with clinical parameters to establish a reward function for reinforcement learning, ranking competing models. This allows leveraging explainable AI (xAI) methods for clinical interpretability. Governance mechanisms and orchestration platforms can be integrated to monitor and manage models. The proposed framework guides users toward human-centered AI design and developing AI-enhanced health system solutions.
Burden of RSV infections among young children in primary care: a prospective cohort study in five European countries (2021–23)
Background: The majority of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in young children are managed in primary care, however, the disease burden in this setting remains poorly defined. Methods: We did a prospective cohort study in primary care settings in Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and the UK during the RSV seasons of 2020–21 (UK only; from Jan 1, 2021), 2021–22, and 2022–23. Children aged younger than 5 years presenting to their general practitioner or primary care paediatrician with symptoms of an acute respiratory tract infection were eligible for RSV testing. Children who tested positive for RSV were consented and followed up for 30 days via a physician clinical report (initial primary care visit on day 1) and two parent-report questionnaires (days 14 and 30). We assessed the burden of RSV in terms of clinical course (symptoms, illness duration, and complications), health-care resource utilisation (primary care visits, emergency department visits, hospitalisation rate, and medication use), and societal impact (daycare or school absence and parental work absence) for the 30-day follow-up period. Findings: Among 3414 tested children, 1124 (32·9%; 95% CI 31·3–34·5) tested positive for RSV. Among children with data on age, RSV positivity rate was 38·9% (36·1–41·7; n=466 of 1198) in children younger than 1 year and 25·9% (24·0–27·9; n=513 of 1979) in those aged 1 to <5 years. Of the 1124 RSV-positive children, 878 (78·1%) were enrolled and had day 1 data collected (median age 11·1 months [IQR 6·0–22·0]; 446 [50·9%] boys and 431 [49·1%] girls [N=877]). RSV illness lasted a mean of 11·7 days (95% CI 11·2–12·2; n=794). At day 14 and day 30, any remaining symptoms were reported in 451 of 804 (56·1% [95% CI 52·6–59·6]) and 261 of 724 (36·0% [32·6–39·7]) children. The mean number of primary care visits per child ranged from 1·4 (95% CI 1·2–1·6; the Netherlands) to 3·0 (2·8–3·3; Spain), and was higher in children younger than 1 year (2·7 visits [2·4–2·9]) than in those aged 1 to <5 years (2·1 [1·9–2·2]). Prescribed medication use varied, from 25 of 96 children (26·0% [95% CI 17·6–36·0]; the UK) to 228 of 297 children (76·8% [71·5–81·5]; Italy), with bronchodilators and antibiotics being the most commonly prescribed medicines across all countries. Prescribed medication use was reported in 258 of 418 children aged 1 to <5 years (61·7% [56·9–66·4]) and 196 of 394 children younger than 1 year (49·7% [44·7–54·8]). Missed working days by parents due to their child's RSV illness were reported in 340 of 744 cases (45·7% [42·1–49·4]); the mean number of missed workdays ranged from 1·3 days (95% CI 0·5–2·2) in Spain to 4·1 days (3·3–5·0) in Belgium. Interpretation: RSV infections in children younger than 5 years in primary care are associated with substantial symptomatology, health-care utilisation, and parental work absence. Notable differences in RSV burden existed across countries, likely due to differences in primary health-care systems, clinical practice, and health-care-seeking behaviour. This study emphasises the importance of considering country-specific primary care burden estimates when considering the implementation of RSV immunisations programmes. Funding: Sanofi and AstraZeneca.
Experiences of integrating social prescribing link workers into primary care in England — bolting on, fitting in, or belonging: a realist evaluation
Background Following the 2019 NHS Long Term Plan, link workers have been employed across primary care in England to deliver social prescribing. Aim To understand and explain how the link worker role is being implemented in primary care in England. Design and setting This was a realist evaluation undertaken in England, focusing on link workers based in primary care. Method The study used focused ethnographies around seven link workers from different parts of England. As part of this, we interviewed 61 patients and 93 professionals from health care and the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector. We reinterviewed 41 patients, seven link workers, and a link worker manager 9–12 months after their first interview. Results We developed four concepts from the codes developed during the project on the topic around how link workers are integrated (or not) within primary care: (or not) within primary care: centralising or diffusing power; forging an identity in general practice; demonstrating effect; and building a facilitative infrastructure. These concepts informed the development of a programme theory around a continuum of integration of link workers into primary care — from being ‘bolted on’ to existing provision, without much consideration, to ‘fitting in’, shaping what is delivered to be accommodating, through to ‘belonging’, whereby they are accepted as a legitimate source of support, making a valued contribution to patients’ broader wellbeing. Conclusion Social prescribing was introduced into primary care to promote greater attention to the full range of factors affecting patients’ health and wellbeing, beyond biomedicine. For that to happen, our analysis highlights the need for a whole-system approach to defining, delivering, and maintaining this new part of practice.
The consequences of micro-discretions and boundaries in the social prescribing link worker role in England: a realist evaluation.
BACKGROUND: Social prescribing addresses non-medical factors affecting health and well-being. Link workers are key to its delivery by connecting people to relevant support, often in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Funding from the National Health Service means that link workers are becoming a common part of primary care in England. OBJECTIVE: To explore and understand the implementation of link workers in primary care in England. DESIGN: A realist evaluation addressed the question - When implementing link workers in primary care to sustain outcomes - what works, for whom, why and in what circumstances? SETTING: Link workers and staff associated with seven primary care sites across England. METHODS: Researchers spent 3 weeks with each link worker, going to meetings with them, watching them interact with patients, with healthcare staff and with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. In addition, interviews were conducted with 61 patients and 93 professionals (voluntary, community and social enterprise representatives and healthcare staff, including link workers). Follow-up interviews were conducted with 41 patients and with link workers 9-12 months later. Data were coded and developed into statements to identify how context around the link worker triggers mechanisms that lead to intended and unintended outcomes. RESULTS: We found that link workers exercise micro-discretions in their role - actions and advice-giving based on personal judgement of a situation, which may not always reflect explicit guidance or protocols. Our analysis highlighted that micro-discretions engender positive connections (with patients, healthcare staff, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector) and promote buy-in to the link worker role in primary care. Micro-discretions supported delivery of person-centred care and enhanced job satisfaction. Data also highlighted that lack of boundaries could place link workers at risk of overstepping their remit. LIMITATIONS: Our research focused on link workers attached to primary care; findings may not be applicable to those working in other settings. Data were collected around seven link worker cases, who were selected purposively for variation in terms of geographical spread and how/by whom link workers were employed. However, these link workers were predominately white females. CONCLUSIONS: Enabling link workers to exercise micro-discretions allows for responsiveness to individual patient needs but can result in uncertainty and to link workers feeling overstretched. FUTURE WORK: Poor link worker retention may, in part, be associated with a lack of clarity around their role. Research to explore how this shapes intention to leave their job is being conducted by authors of this paper. FUNDING: This article presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme as award number NIHR130247.
Experiential caring and the mobilisation of peerhood in group clinics
The concept of ‘peer support’ has generated much interest in mainstream health services. In policy discourse, peer-based initiatives are often described as ‘empowering’ and seen as contributing to more ‘democratic’ and ‘holistic’ forms of care. Focusing on group clinics as one such example, this article challenges the assumption that peer-based initiatives represent a straightforward and unequivocal ‘good’ when embedded in clinical care. We draw on qualitative data from three studies (2016–2025), including 118 interviews and ethnographic observation in 59 in-person, remote, and hybrid group clinics for diabetes and menopause at 5 primary and secondary care sites in England. Adopting a sociomaterial lens, we uncover how different forms and practices of peerhood emerge (or not) in the circumstances through which these clinics are materialised. We show how biomedical artefacts (e.g. diabetes test results, menopause symptom lists) used as part of consulting play a key role in constituting forms of affiliation and differentiation between patients, in turn determining whether and what forms of peer ‘support’ (e.g. disciplinary, affirmative) are accomplished. We go on to explore how being presented as a peer as part of clinical consulting brings about new roles and responsibilities for patients, and introduce the term ‘experiential caring’ to denote a new mode of consulting that mobilises roles, practices, and subjectivities associated with peerhood.