Family practice最新文献

{"title":"Use of Mindex and Demiquet for assessing nutritional status in older adults.","authors":"Yanisa Thuayngam, Narucha Komolsuradej, Napakkawat Buathong, Siwaluk Srikrajang","doi":"10.1093/fampra/cmad057","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fampra/cmad057","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is a validated questionnaire that estimates nutritional status. Given that this questionnaire uses stature measurement, which are unreliable in older adults, Mindex and Demiquet are alternatives to BMI for assessing malnutrition risk. However, the correlation of Mindex and Demiquet values with MNA scores has not been investigated.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This cross-sectional study examined the correlation of Mindex and Demiquet with nutritional status and blood parameters in older adults in Thailand.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The correlation of Mindex and Demiquet with MNA scores and body mass index (BMI), as well as blood parameters, was evaluated. Sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and blood test results were collected from 347 participants aged 60 years and older (mean ± SD, 66.4 ± 5.3 years). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and multiple logistic regression analyses were used in statistical analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MNA scores were significantly correlated with Mindex (P < 0.001) and Demiquet (P = 0.001), and BMI was related to Mindex and Demiquet (P < 0.001). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) predicted MNA scores (P = 0.048) in males but not females.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Mindex and Demiquet values were positively correlated with MNA scores and BMI. In addition, LDL-C predicted MNA scores in male older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":12209,"journal":{"name":"Family practice","volume":" ","pages":"941-948"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9844375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of implementing primary care-based medication for opioid use disorder on provider and staff perceptions.","authors":"Sara Mazzarelli, Audrey L Blewer, Truls Østbye, Katherine Rhodes, Gabriela Plasencia, Lauren Hart, Gregory Sawin","doi":"10.1093/fampra/cmae044","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fampra/cmae044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is the management of opioid use disorder (OUD) on an outpatient basis with buprenorphine or buprenorphine/naloxone (or methadone, which is limited to federally certified opioid treatment programs). Primary care practices are well poised to provide comprehensive care for patients with OUD, including provision of MOUD. The aim of this study was to assess provider and staff OUD attitudes and role perceptions before and after implementation of a MOUD clinical service line. A survey was distributed to evaluate attitudes and perceptions of patients with OUD and provision of MOUD among providers and staff in an academic family medicine clinic. Surveys were distributed in December 2020 (73% response rate), prior to a substance use disorder educational training and MOUD service line implementation, which provided patients with OUD both primary care services and management with buprenorphine/naloxone. A follow-up survey was distributed in February 2022 (69% response rate).Training and implementation of the MOUD service line demonstrated improvements in the domains of motivation (+0.63), attitudes (+0.32), satisfaction (+0.38), role support (+0.48), role adequacy (+0.39), and safety (+0.79) among surveyed participants. The change in satisfaction and safety domains was statistically significant (P < .05). There was no change in the role legitimacy domain.Implementation of a primary care-based MOUD service line positively affected provider and staff motivation, attitudes, satisfaction, sense of safety, role support, and adequacy when working with patients with OUD. This highlights the benefits of MOUD-specific clinical support to optimize care delivery within primary care.</p>","PeriodicalId":12209,"journal":{"name":"Family practice","volume":" ","pages":"1018-1024"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11638083/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142282637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A short tool to screen self-care preparedness: cross-sectional study in general practice.","authors":"Ulla Mikkonen, Nina Tusa, Sanna Sinikallio, Hannu Kautiainen, Pekka Mäntyselkä","doi":"10.1093/fampra/cmad107","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fampra/cmad107","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Self-care is crucial in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. It is important to identify patients who need support with self-care.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study introduces a self-care preparedness index (SCPI) and examines its associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and other outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study of adults (n = 301) with hypertension, coronary artery disease, or diabetes in primary health care. Based on the self-care questionnaire, SCPI was formed. A higher SCPI value indicated better self-care preparedness. We examined correlations and a hypothesis of linearity between SCPI and HRQoL (15D), depressive symptoms (BDI), patient activation (PAM), and health-related outcomes (self-rated health, life satisfaction, physical activity, body mass index [BMI], waist, low-density lipoprotein). Exploratory factor analysis was used to test the construct validity of SCPI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 293 patients with a mean age of 68 (54.3% women) were included in the analysis. BDI, BMI, and waist had a negative linear trend with SCPI. Self-rated health, physical activity, patient activity, and life satisfaction had a positive linear trend with SCPI. SCPI correlated with HRQoL (r = 0.31 [95% CI: 0.20 to 0.41]). Exploratory factor analysis of the SCPI scores revealed 3 factors explaining 82% of the total variance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>SCPI seems to identify individuals with different levels of preparedness in self-care. This provides means for health care providers to individualize the levels of support and counselling. SCPI seems to be a promising tool in primary health care but needs further validation before use in large scale trials or clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":12209,"journal":{"name":"Family practice","volume":" ","pages":"970-976"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11636555/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136397072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders in paediatric primary care: A scoping review.","authors":"Paulette T O'Hara, Pamela Talero Cabrejo, Tracey V Earland","doi":"10.1093/fampra/cmad072","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fampra/cmad072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Earlier detection of children at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders is critical and has longstanding repercussions if not addressed early enough.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To explore the supporting or facilitating characteristics of paediatric primary care models of care for early detection in infants and toddlers at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, identify practitioners involved, and describe how they align with occupational therapy's scope of practice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute framework was used. PubMed Central, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, and Scopus databases were searched. The search was conducted between January and February 2022. Inclusion criteria were: children aged 0-3 years old; neurodevelopmental disorders including cerebral palsy (CP) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD); models of care used in the paediatric primary care setting and addressing concepts of timing and plasticity; peer-reviewed literature written in English; published between 2010 and 2022. Study protocol registered at https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/MD4K5.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 1,434 publications, yielding 22 studies that met inclusion criteria. Models of care characteristics included the use of technology, education to parents and staff, funding to utilize innovative models of care, assessment variability, organizational management changes, increased visit length, earlier timeline for neurodevelopmental screening, and collaboration with current office staff or nonphysician practitioners. The top 4 providers were paediatricians, general or family practitioners, nurse/nurse practitioners, and office staff. All studies aligned with occupational therapy health promotion scope of practice and intervention approach yet did not include occupational therapy within the paediatric primary care setting.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>No studies included occupational therapy as a healthcare provider that could be used within the paediatric primary care setting. However, all studies demonstrated models of care facilitating characteristics aligning with occupational therapy practice. Models of care facilitating characteristics identified interdisciplinary staff as a major contributor, which can include occupational therapy, to improve early detection within paediatric primary care.</p>","PeriodicalId":12209,"journal":{"name":"Family practice","volume":" ","pages":"883-891"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10228665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of drug palatability on prescribing and dispensing of antibiotic formulations for paediatric patients: a cross-sectional survey of general practitioners and pharmacists.","authors":"Ayat Elgammal, Joseph Ryan, Colin Bradley, Abina Crean, Margaret Bermingham","doi":"10.1093/fampra/cmad071","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fampra/cmad071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Palatability is a key element of paediatric acceptability for medicines. Many patient and drug factors are considered when choosing an antibiotic for a child. Pharmacists report that they receive questions about the palatability of oral liquid antibiotics for children. This study aimed to explore the experiences of GPs and pharmacists concerning palatability of oral liquid antibiotics for children.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A questionnaire about the impact of palatability on the choice of antibiotic formulation for children was emailed to all community pharmacists in Ireland and to GPs and trainee GPs in the Cork region and posted on social media. Survey items were not compulsory; therefore, percentage responses were calculated based on the number of responses to that item. GP and pharmacist responses were analysed independently.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Responses were received from 244 participants (59 GPs, 185 pharmacists). Clinical guidelines and availability of supply were the most important factors considered when choosing an oral liquid antibiotic formulation for children by GP (79.7%) and pharmacist (66.5%) respondents respectively. Forty GP respondents (76.9%) reported ensuring adherence was the most common palatability-related reason leading to deviation from guidelines. Pharmacist respondents (52%) reported advising a parent/caregiver to manipulate the required antibiotic dose to improve acceptability. The least palatable oral liquid antibiotics reported were flucloxacillin (16% GPs, 18% pharmacists) and clarithromycin (17% of each profession).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study identified palatability issues associated with oral liquid antibiotics for children reported by GPs and pharmacists. Pharmaceutical approaches to adapting oral liquid antibiotic formulations must be developed to improve palatability and thus paediatric acceptability.</p>","PeriodicalId":12209,"journal":{"name":"Family practice","volume":" ","pages":"962-969"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11636568/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9812575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"General Practitioners perspectives on infant telomere length screening after a pregnancy complication: a qualitative analysis.","authors":"Carolyn J Puglisi, Joshua McDonough, Tina Bianco-Miotto, Jessica A Grieger","doi":"10.1093/fampra/cmad064","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fampra/cmad064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pregnancy complications can impact the mother and child's health in the short and longterm resulting in an increased risk of chronic disease later in life. Telomere length is a biomarker of future cardiometabolic diseases and may offer a novel way of identifying offspring most at risk for future chronic diseases.</p><p><strong>Objective(s): </strong>To qualitatively explore General Practitioners' (GPs) perspectives on the feasibility and uptake for recommending a telomere screening test in children who were born after a pregnancy complication.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with GPs within metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed for codes and themes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two themes were generated: ethical considerations and practical considerations. Ethically, the GP participants discussed barriers including consenting on behalf of a child, parental guilt, and the impact of health insurance, whereas viewing it for health promotion was a facilitator. For practical considerations, barriers included the difficulty in identifying people eligible for screening, maintaining medical communication between service providers, and time and financial constraints, whereas linking screening for telomere length with existing screening would facilitate uptake.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>GPs were generally supportive of potential telomere screening in infants, particularly via a saliva test that could be embedded in current antenatal care. However, several challenges, such as lack of knowledge, ethical considerations, and time and financial constraints, need to be overcome before such a test could be implemented into practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":12209,"journal":{"name":"Family practice","volume":" ","pages":"1025-1031"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11636557/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9926161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Self-help interventions for the prevention of relapse in mood disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Heidi Ka-Ying Lo, Fiona Yan-Yee Ho, Jerry Wing-Fai Yeung, Stephy Tim-Wai Ng, Eva Yuen-Ting Wong, Ka-Fai Chung","doi":"10.1093/fampra/cmae036","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fampra/cmae036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Self-help interventions may offer a scalable adjunct to traditional care, but their effectiveness in relapse prevention is not well-established. Objectives: This review aimed to assess their effectiveness in preventing relapses among individuals with mood disorders.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We systematically reviewed the pertinent trial literature in Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases until May 2024. Randomized controlled trials that examined the self-help interventions among individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder (BD) were included. The random-effects model computed the pooled risk ratios of relapse, with subgroup analyses and meta-regression analyses to explore heterogeneity sources.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifteen papers and 16 comparisons of randomized trials involving 2735 patients with mood disorders were eligible for this meta-analysis. Adjunct self-help interventions had a small but significant effect on reducing the relapse rates of major depressive disorder (pooled risk ratio: 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66-0.92, P = 0.0032, NNT = 11), and were marginally better in bipolar disorder (pooled risk ratio: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.40-0.97, P = .0344, NNT = 12), as compared to treatment as usual (TAU). No subgroup difference was found based on intervention components, settings, delivery method, or guidance levels. The average dropout rate for self-help interventions (18.9%) did not significantly differ from TAU dropout rates. The examination of treatment adherence was highly variable, precluding definitive conclusions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Self-help interventions demonstrate a modest preventative effect on relapse in mood disorders, despite low to very low certainty. Future research is essential to identify which elements of self-help interventions are most effective.</p>","PeriodicalId":12209,"journal":{"name":"Family practice","volume":" ","pages":"662-679"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141626513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Methodological quality and clinical recommendations of guidelines on the management of dyslipidaemias for cardiovascular disease risk reduction: a systematic review and an appraisal through AGREE II and AGREE REX tools.","authors":"Flávia Deffert, Ana Paula Oliveira Vilela, Alexandre de Fátima Cobre, Luiz Henrique Picolo Furlan, Fernanda Stumpf Tonin, Fernando Fernandez-Llimos, Roberto Pontarolo","doi":"10.1093/fampra/cmae029","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fampra/cmae029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are statements to assist practitioners and stakeholders in decisions about healthcare. Low methodological quality guidelines may prejudice decision-making and negatively affect clinical outcomes in non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases worsted by poor lipid management. We appraised the quality of CPGs on dyslipidemia management and synthesized the most updated pharmacological recommendations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review following international recommendations was performed. Searches to retrieve CPG on pharmacological treatments in adults with dyslipidaemia were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Trip databases. Eligible articles were assessed using AGREE II (methodological quality) and AGREE-REX (recommendation excellence) tools. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. The most updated guidelines (published after 2019) had their recommendations qualitatively synthesized in an exploratory analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 66 guidelines authored by professional societies (75%) and targeting clinicians as primary users were selected. The AGREE II domains Scope and Purpose (89%) and Clarity of Presentation (97%), and the AGREE-REX item Clinical Applicability (77.0%) obtained the highest values. Conversely, guidelines were methodologically poorly performed/documented (46%) and scarcely provided data on the implementability of practical recommendations (38%). Recommendations on pharmacological treatments are overall similar, with slight differences concerning the use of supplements and the availability of drugs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>High-quality dyslipidaemia CPG, especially outside North America and Europe, and strictly addressing evidence synthesis, appraisal, and recommendations are needed, especially to guide primary care decisions. CPG developers should consider stakeholders' values and preferences and adapt existing statements to individual populations and healthcare systems to ensure successful implementation interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12209,"journal":{"name":"Family practice","volume":" ","pages":"649-661"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141237185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is primary care ready for a potential new public health emergency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, now subsided?","authors":"Rebecca S Etz, Craig A Solid, Martha M Gonzalez, Sarah R Reves, Erin Britton, Larry A Green, Asaf Bitton, Christine Bechtel, Kurt C Stange","doi":"10.1093/fampra/cmae005","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fampra/cmae005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The lingering burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care clinicians and practices poses a public health emergency for the United States. This study uses clinician-reported data to examine changes in primary care demand and capacity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From March 2020 to March 2022, 36 electronic surveys were fielded among primary care clinicians responding to survey invitations as posted on listservs and identified through social media and crowd sourcing. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on both closed- and open-ended survey questions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>An average of 937 respondents per survey represented family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, geriatrics, and other specialties. Responses reported increases in patient health burden, including worsening chronic care management and increasing volume and complexity. A higher frequency of dental- and eyesight-related issues was noted by respondents, as was a substantial increase in mental or emotional health needs. Respondents also noted increased demand, \"record high\" wait times, and struggles to keep up with patient needs and the higher volume of patient questions. Frequent qualitative statements highlighted the mismatch of patient needs with practice capacity. Staffing shortages and the inability to fill open clinical positions impaired clinicians' ability to meet patient needs and a substantial proportion of respondents indicated an intention to leave the profession or knew someone who had.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These data signal an urgent need to take action to support the ability of primary care to meet ongoing patient and population health care needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":12209,"journal":{"name":"Family practice","volume":" ","pages":"732-739"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139575366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical audit of quality of care among patients with viral hepatitis in primary care in a low endemic region.","authors":"Özgür M Koc, Bert Vaes, Geert Robaeys, Cristian F Catalan, Bert Aertgeerts, Frederik Nevens","doi":"10.1093/fampra/cmae019","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fampra/cmae019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The current hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening practices may fail to detect many infected patients who could benefit from new therapeutic agents to limit progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study assessed the test positivity rate and cascade of care of viral hepatitis patients in primary care in a low endemic region as well as the testing policy of abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective clinical audit among primary health care practices in Flanders, Belgium, assessing patients with an active medical file between 2019 and 2021.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 84/89 (94.4%) primary health care practices participated representing 621,573 patients of which 1069 patients (0.17%) were registered as having viral hepatitis, not further specified. Detailed information was available from 38 practices representing 243,723/621,573 (39.2%) patients of which 169 (0.07%) were HBsAg positive and 99 (0.04%) anti-HCV positive. A total of 96/134(71.6%) chronic HBV-infected and 31/77(40.3%) chronic HCV-infected patients were referred to a hepatologist. A total of 30,573/621,573(4.9%) patients had an abnormal ALT level, and by at random selection, more detailed information was obtained on 211 patients. Information on high-risk groups was missing in up to 60%. In patients with abnormal ALT level, HBsAg and anti-HCV testing were conducted in 37/211(17.5%) and 25/211(11.8%), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In a low endemic region, the testing rate and cascade of care of HBV and HCV-infected patients can be improved in primary care, especially in high-risk groups and patients with abnormal ALT levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":12209,"journal":{"name":"Family practice","volume":" ","pages":"693-701"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141418499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}