Journal of Primary Care and Community Health最新文献

{"title":"General Practitioners' Needs and Preferences Regarding the Provision of Self-sampling Tests for Cervical Cancer Screening in Flanders, Belgium.","authors":"Eva Gezels, Sara Willems, Katrien Vanthomme, Lien Keersse, Kaatje Van Roy","doi":"10.1177/21501319251320178","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21501319251320178","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Screening coverage for cervical cancer remains suboptimal in Flanders, Belgium. The upcoming transition to primary HPV screening in January 2025 presents an opportunity to offer self-sampling kits (SSKs) as an alternative to conventional Pap smears, with the potential to increase participation rates. General practitioners (GPs) can play a crucial role in reaching under-screened populations. Hereto it is essential to understand the needs and preferences of GPs regarding the integration of SSKs into their routine practice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with GPs participating in an implementation study on the added value of SSKs for long-term non-screened women, focusing on their experiences, challenges, and suggestions regarding the provision of SSKs to these patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The interviewed GPs recognized the potential of SSKs to increase participation, particularly due to their less invasive nature, which makes them more acceptable to underscreened women. Time constraints, technical software challenges, limited knowledge and doubt about SSK accuracy were identified as key barriers to implement SSKs in routine practice. GPs emphasized the need for adaptability in the distribution methods of SSKs, with many preferring a combination of mailing the SSKs and providing them in person. Personalized communication and tailored explanations were considered as crucial to ensure patient acceptance and the correct use of the tests.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study shows that while GPs recognize the potential of SSKs to enhance cervical cancer screening, several challenges need to be addressed for their effective integration into primary care. A successful approach should incorporate streamlined support systems, tailored approaches to implement reminders for GPs and improved education for GPs. Future research should consider quantitative data on the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of SSKs in the specific context of Flanders and the perspectives of a broader range of stakeholders, including patients, practice nurses, gynecologists and policymakers, to develop more comprehensive strategies for the successful implementation of SSKs.</p>","PeriodicalId":46723,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Primary Care and Community Health","volume":"16 ","pages":"21501319251320178"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11938895/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implementation of Site-Specific Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Workflows for Vulnerable, High-Risk Populations: A Prospective Single-Arm Trial.","authors":"Anmol Desai, Kia Reinis, Lauren O'Neal, Patrick Chang, Cristal Brown, Michael Stefanowicz, Audrey Kuang, Deepak Agrawal, Tim Mercer, Darlene Bhavnani","doi":"10.1177/21501319251330622","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21501319251330622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment with pan-genotypic direct acting antivirals is highly effective, given an evidence-based simplified treatment algorithm. Yet access to treatment is limited among vulnerable populations.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We assessed the effectiveness of site-specific HCV treatment workflows on HCV care for vulnerable populations in Austin, Texas.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C enrolled in care at a study site were eligible for this prospective, single-arm clinical trial. We assessed the proportion of participants that: (1) were prescribed treatment, (2) initiated treatment, (3) completed treatment, (4) were assessed for cure, and (5) achieved cure. We also evaluated implementation using the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 62 participants, 89% had ever experienced homelessness and 94% had ever used drugs. An estimated 66% (95% CrI, 42%-84%) were prescribed treatment and 49% (95% CrI, 26%-70%) initiated treatment. An estimated 38% (95% CrI, 20%-58%) completed treatment, 14% (95% CrI, 4%-44%) were assessed for cure, and 10% (95% CrI, 2%-35%) achieved cure.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We identified gaps along the HCV care cascade between: (1) enrolled to prescribed treatment and (2) completed treatment to assessed for cure. Site-specific HCV treatment workflows were insufficient to engage participants in care and avoid treatment delays. Novel approaches are needed and these may include patient outreach, patient navigation, test-and-treat protocols, and removing financial or payor barriers to medication access.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on July, 14, 2022. Identifier: NCT05460130. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05460130.</p>","PeriodicalId":46723,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Primary Care and Community Health","volume":"16 ","pages":"21501319251330622"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11960160/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143755227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining the Preliminary Effectiveness on Knowledge of a Tobacco Cessation Facilitator Training for Community Health Workers.","authors":"Tianqu Lu, Anna Veluz-Wilkins, Andres Mauricio Garcia Sierra, Dedeepya Konuthula, Marcia Tan","doi":"10.1177/21501319251341977","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21501319251341977","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Disparities in access to tobacco cessation support and resources remain significant issues among community members with low socioeconomic status (SES). Community health workers (CHWs) can connect with community members and have flexibility in delivering treatments to underserved populations. The Community Health Allies Nicotine Guidance Education (C.H.A.N.G.E.) project, designed for CHWs, aimed to address the disparities by implementing a tailored tobacco cessation training program. The current study examined the C.H.A.N.G.E. program's preliminary effectiveness on CHW knowledge gain.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were collected from CHWs in Chicago, IL who participated in the training program between October 2022 and December 2023, and CHWs completed a tobacco cessation knowledge questionnaire pre-training, post-training, and at 1- and 6-month follow-up. A paired samples <i>t</i>-test was conducted to assess changes in CHWs' pre-post knowledge change. Descriptive analyses were also explored to examine the type of knowledge that was retained and whether that differed by the client population that CHWs served.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CHWs (N = 72) were mostly women (68%) who worked in their current role for an average of 2.34 years (SD = 1.54). The mean age of participants in the study was 38.06 years (SD = 13.09). Baseline knowledge was low (<i>M</i> = 3.75 [1.18] out of 10) but significantly increased post-training (<i>M</i> = 6.64 [1.13]; <i>P</i> < .001). There was no difference in change of tobacco cessation knowledge scores for groups based on client population served.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The C.H.A.N.G.E. training effectively improved CHWs' tobacco cessation knowledge. However, knowledge changes had no differences based on client types of CHWs. This study highlighted the importance of continuous adaptation and evaluation of training programs to fit the needs of CHWs and their clients in underserved, community-based settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":46723,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Primary Care and Community Health","volume":"16 ","pages":"21501319251341977"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12104599/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144144062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of a Health-Related Social Needs Screening and Referral Intervention in the Bronx.","authors":"Priya Elizabeth George, Jessica Haughton, Renee Whiskey, Samantha Levano, Hemen Muleta, Kevin P Fiori","doi":"10.1177/21501319251334210","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21501319251334210","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The Community Health Worker Institute (CHWI) addresses health-related social needs (HRSNs) by integrating Community Health Workers (CHWs) into patient care. This study explores the barriers and facilitators to HRSN referrals and the integration of CHWs within clinical teams.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Qualitative interviews were conducted with CHWs, CHWI program staff, and clinicians from ambulatory care clinics. Semi-structured interviews, guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using rapid qualitative methods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Preliminary findings found that while clinicians support the CHWI and referral program, time constraints during patient visits likely hinder effective screenings and referrals. CHWs are seen as valuable advocates but continue to face challenges due to confusion about their clinical role from patients and clinicians. Hierarchical power dynamics seen between providers and CHWs likely contribute to this confusion. Clinics with strong leadership, clear role delineation, and clinical site preparation appear to have better CHW integration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CHWs play a crucial role in addressing HRSNs, but their integration into clinical teams requires overcoming logistical and educational challenges. These findings offer insights for improving the HRSN referral process and integrating CHWs into healthcare systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":46723,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Primary Care and Community Health","volume":"16 ","pages":"21501319251334210"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12126658/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144192275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Study of Cesarean Deliveries From a Single Midwestern Residency Program: Total Surgical Time, Incision-to-Delivery Time, and Neonatal Apgar Scores.","authors":"Jeremy King, Jenenne Geske, Chanont Sricharoen, Birgit Khandalavala","doi":"10.1177/21501319251320175","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21501319251320175","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cesarean delivery surgical quality indicators and outcomes support the surgical skills of family medicine physicians. These data have educational and clinical implications yet are largely unexplored. Our study updated cesarean surgical times, incision-to-delivery time, and neonatal Apgar scores from a midwestern family medicine residency program.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>All cesarean deliveries performed by family medicine faculty from January 2012 to March 2021 were reviewed. Total surgical time, incision-to-delivery time, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min, and maternal demographic information were recorded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>320 cesarean deliveries were reviewed. The average total surgical procedure time was 64.3 min (SD = 17.9) and incision-to-delivery time was 9.5 min (SD = 4.9). The average 1-min Apgar score was 7.5 (SD = 1.8) and the average 5-min Apgar score was 8.7 (SD = 1.0). There were no significant correlations between 1- and 5-min Apgar scores and procedure times.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cesarean delivery quality indicators from family medicine faculty are updated and appear similar to those reported previously in studies that did not include the presence of learners. This EMR-based study provides baseline information for future surgical cesarean delivery quality improvement and outcomes research.</p>","PeriodicalId":46723,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Primary Care and Community Health","volume":"16 ","pages":"21501319251320175"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11843695/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143459693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of an Undiagnosed Mass Registry: Lessons Learned From Our First 100 Patients.","authors":"Steven W Ressler, Ivana T Croghan, Marlene E Girardo, John P Fasolino, Elizabeth A Gilman, Nate P Erwin, Nancy L Dawson, Joan M Irizarry-Alvarado, Ryan T Hurt, Karthik Ghosh","doi":"10.1177/21501319251325650","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21501319251325650","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The Undiagnosed Mass Clinic (UMC) at our institution is a clinical and research program created to address gaps in the early diagnostic phase of the cancer care continuum for patients with potential malignant neoplasms. All patients referred to the UMC are invited to participate in the UMC registry, which tracks operational and clinical metrics while maintaining a repository of blood and tissue specimens for future research.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective cohort study of the first 100 patients enrolled in the UMC registry. We analyzed patient demographics, final diagnoses, and the time from initial consultation to final diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most participants were White (86%), non-Hispanic (93%), and married (72%). The mean (SD) age was 64 (13.9) years. The final diagnoses of the masses were categorized as malignant/neoplastic with malignant potential (n = 53), benign (n = 36), or requiring diagnostic surveillance (n = 10). The mean (SD) time from initial consultation to final diagnosis of malignant/neoplastic with malignant potential masses significantly improved from 37.4 (36.6) days for the first 50 participants to 17.3 (19.7) days for the next 50 participants (<i>P</i> = .006).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These initial insights from the UMC registry will help direct future efforts to improve the care of patients with potential malignant neoplasms.</p>","PeriodicalId":46723,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Primary Care and Community Health","volume":"16 ","pages":"21501319251325650"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11907532/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143626446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Driving Sustainability in Asthma and COPD Management: Preventative Models and Green Prescribing in a Rural Primary Care Practice in England.","authors":"Meredith Donaldson, Carl Deaney","doi":"10.1177/21501319251334217","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251334217","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Asthma and COPD are among the most prevalent chronic respiratory conditions, with inhalers as their primary pharmacological treatment. In the UK, metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) account for 70% of all inhaler prescriptions and contribute significantly to the NHS's carbon footprint, making green prescribing a critical focus. Aligning environmental sustainability with clinical excellence is essential to reducing exacerbations and deaths while minimising carbon emissions.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This initiative aimed to assess the localised impact of a structured quality improvement program designed to enhance respiratory care and integrate sustainable prescribing practices. Specifically, it sought to evaluate prescribing patterns, respiratory review completion rates, and the feasibility of transitioning patients from MDIs to lower-carbon alternatives whilst maintaining clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The initiative, implemented at a UK general practice in January 2020, focussed on staff education, restructuring respiratory consultations, and patient engagement. The \"treatable traits\" paradigm and best practice frameworks guided the program to optimise individualised care. Prescribing data, in-date respiratory review rates, and estimated carbon emissions were analysed over 4 years (2020-2024) using publicly available sources such as OpenPrescribing.net. While education was a component of the intervention, no formal assessment was conducted on its direct impact on prescribing behaviours.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The practice achieved an in-date respiratory review rate exceeding 90%, rising to over 96% during the most recent QOF period. Over 4 years, the proportion of non-salbutamol MDI prescriptions decreased from 62.9% to 36.2%, aligning with national sustainability goals. Despite growth in the practice population, overall carbon emissions from inhalers were successfully reduced, reflecting a shift towards lower-carbon prescribing.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This initiative illustrates the feasibility of integrating sustainable prescribing practices into routine respiratory care, aligning with the goals of the national health system. This work highlights the potential of local-level interventions to contribute to broader sustainability efforts in respiratory medicine. Improvements in prescribing patterns and review rates have been noted, but more research is needed to evaluate the impact of educational interventions on healthcare providers' and patients' decisions. Future initiatives should focus on structured evaluations of long-term adherence and clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":46723,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Primary Care and Community Health","volume":"16 ","pages":"21501319251334217"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12035058/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144030078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using a Wearable Brain Activity Sensing Device in the Treatment of Long COVID Symptoms in an Open-Label Clinical Trial.","authors":"Ryan T Hurt, Ravindra Ganesh, Darrell R Schroeder, Jennifer L Hanson, Shawn C Fokken, Joshua D Overgaard, Brent A Bauer, Bright P Thilagar, Christopher A Aakre, Sandhya Pruthi, Ivana T Croghan","doi":"10.1177/21501319251325639","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21501319251325639","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study evaluated the feasibility and satisfaction of using a wearable brain activity sensing device for stress reduction among patients experiencing Long COVID (LC).</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>Patients with LC (N = 45) were invited to participate in an open-label pilot study. Participants were asked to use a brain-sensing electroencephalogram (S-EEG) wearable device (Muse-S™) daily for 90 days and followed for an additional 90 days (180 days total participation). Study enrollment began June 28, 2022, and ended July 28, 2023.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients were predominantly female (82%), white (96%), and with an average age of 47.6 (±12.5) years. At the end of treatment (90 days), cognition, sleep, self-efficacy, and quality-of-life quality of life improved (<i>P</i> < .001 to <i>P</i> = .04). In addition, stress and anxiety were significantly reduced (<i>P</i> < .001). These significant changes persisted by end-of-study (180 days). For stress (<i>P</i> = .023) and anxiety (<i>P</i> = .033), a change from the baseline during follow-up was significantly associated with the amount of S-EEG usage. The end-of-study satisfaction survey indicated that patients were very satisfied with the S-EEG device, and 97% planned to continue using it.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Results suggest that the S-EEG device improved cognition in LC, which is one of the main severe symptoms we see in our LC clinic. In addition, it helped reduce stress and anxiety. These findings have important clinical implications for LC patients using S-EEG as an adjunct to concurrent LC clinical care which includes pharmacotherapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":46723,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Primary Care and Community Health","volume":"16 ","pages":"21501319251325639"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905036/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143606619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding Older Adults' Intention to Use Telehealth: A Qualitative Study Using the UTAUT Framework.","authors":"Anne Fleischer, Joneen Lowman, Kristen Strader","doi":"10.1177/21501319251320180","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21501319251320180","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction/objectives: </strong>As healthcare embraces telehealth, a need exists to understand factors that promote older adults' telehealth usage, including the influence of age-related sensory impairments. The objective of this study was to describe older adults' perceptions of telehealth and factors they considered before using telehealth within the framework of The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive qualitative study collected data through semi-structured interviews. Twenty-four older adults were randomly selected from a pool of 103 participants who completed the initial UTAUT survey study. Individual interviews were conducted by telephone. Reflective thematic analysis was used to identify themes within the UTAUT construct that influence older adults' use of telehealth.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Older adults identified preparedness, receptiveness, and willingness to use telehealth as important overarching factors to consider when using telehealth. These are connected to the UTAUT constructs: facilitating conditions, social influence, effort expectancy, and performance expectancy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study supports UTAUT as an appropriate framework for assessing telehealth readiness and predicting behavioral intention to use telehealth. Our findings provide limited evidence that sensory impairments do not impact telehealth readiness unless the individual lacks appropriate adaptations.</p>","PeriodicalId":46723,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Primary Care and Community Health","volume":"16 ","pages":"21501319251320180"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11843705/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143459916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Men's Experiences of Engagement With General Practice: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"Ruth Mursa, Christopher Patterson, Gemma McErlean, Elizabeth Halcomb","doi":"10.1177/21501319251318447","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21501319251318447","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>As males are less engaged with healthcare than females, they often present when a condition is more advanced, reducing the potential for early intervention. Little is known about why men are less engaged and what influences them to be more proactive. This study sought to explore men's experiences of engagement with general practice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative descriptive study was nested within a sequential mixed-methods project. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 17 male staff and volunteers of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service about their experiences, attitudes, and preferences for general practice engagement. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five sub-themes emerged about men's engagement with general practice. \"Reasons for engagement\" revealed motivations for seeking healthcare. \"Seeking validation\" explained how social influences impacted engagement. The \"importance of relationships\" highlighted the value men place on trust with the healthcare provider/team, and how this impacts engagement. \"Interpersonal communication\" addressed preferences for direct and authentic communication. Finally, \"barriers to engagement\" revealed the challenges in accessing care.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Awareness of the barriers and facilitators to men's engagement with general practice can inform strategies to improve care. This study suggests that health professionals play a crucial role in building therapeutic relationships with men and partnering with them in their healthcare journey to improve engagement and health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":46723,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Primary Care and Community Health","volume":"16 ","pages":"21501319251318447"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11803725/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143256548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}