BMC primary care最新文献

{"title":"Exploring healthcare providers' perspectives on the factors that facilitate primary health care access among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people: a qualitative study in Southeast Queensland.","authors":"Stephen Harfield, Judith A Dean, Peter Azzopardi, Gita D Mishra, James Ward","doi":"10.1186/s12875-025-02959-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12875-025-02959-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged 15-24 years of age often encounter challenges accessing and utilising primary health care (PHC). Providing health care responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people requires the active involvement of healthcare providers (HCPs), who play a central role in healthcare delivery. This study explored perspectives of HCPs working in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Health Organisations (ATSICCHOs) on the factors that facilitate Aboriginal and Torres Strait young people accessing and utilising PHC services.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirteen research yarns were conducted with HCPs in urban southeast Queensland (SEQ), Australia. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify factors facilitating health care access and utilisation and were mapped to a social-ecological framework model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three overarching strength-based themes that facilitate access to health care were common across research yarns: (1) The ATSICCHO model of care addresses the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people; (2) Family and community play a key role in facilitating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people's access to healthcare services; and (3) The characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people that support health-seeking behaviour. Specific factors identified included targeted programs and initiatives specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people; equitable access to holistic, comprehensive and culturally safe PHC; characteristics and skills of the ATSICCHO workforce that support young people's engagement and access; and young people's motivation to be healthy and to seek care. Barriers contrasting these themes were also identified.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>HCPs from urban ATSICCHOs provide a unique perspective on the healthcare experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and the factors that facilitate and/or challenge their access to PHC services. Improving PHC access among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people should focus on multilevel strategies across all three levels of the social-ecological model, with a particular focus on increasing opportunities for equitable access to PHC services for young people, enhancing target programs and initiatives for young people, and supporting the knowledge, skills and capacity of HCPs to delivery appropriate, culturally safe and holistic care.</p>","PeriodicalId":72428,"journal":{"name":"BMC primary care","volume":"26 1","pages":"257"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12362961/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884409","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":"Patient-centered medical home and the quality of primary care: survey study with patients and administrators of community healthcare centers in Shanghai, China.","authors":"Hua Jin, Huining Zhou, Leiyu Shi, Hanzhi Zhang, Aizhen Guo, Sen Yang, Shuoyuan Tan, Yuqing Shao, Dehua Yu, Jianwei Shi","doi":"10.1186/s12875-025-02856-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12875-025-02856-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite the widely acknowledged importance of primary care, there remains a significant gap in its comprehensive evaluation in China, particularly from the dual perspectives of institutional performance and patient experience.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We utilized two internationally recognized tools, the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT) for measuring primary care quality from the perspective of patients and The Patient-Centred Medical Home (PCMH, emphasizing providing comprehensive, accessible, and high-quality healthcare services, addressing the evolving needs of patients while enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of primary care systems) for assessing an organization's primary care achievement, to evaluate whether institutional achievement in primary care correlates with better patient experiences in community healthcare centers (CHCs) in Shanghai, China.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nine CHCs were randomly selected using a multi-stage sampling method, followed by a random selection of patients. The PCMH tool was used for CHCs, while the PCAT was administered to patients. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze the association between the PCMH status of the CHCs and the quality of primary care experienced by patients.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>A total of 1,782 patients and 9 CHC administrators completed the PCAT and PCMH tools, respectively. Generally, higher PCAT scores were associated with higher PCMH scores. Compared with patients from Level 1 PCMH CHCs, those from Level 2 and Level 3 CHCs reported significantly better experiences in ongoing care (Level 2: OR = 4.57, P < 0.001; Level 3: OR = 4.54, P < 0.001), family-centeredness (Level 2: OR = 3.39, P < 0.001), and cultural competence (Level 2: OR = 4.27, P < 0.001; Level 3: OR = 2.83, P = 0.03).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study validated PCMH as a robust framework for assessing primary care performance. Furthermore, it identified specific areas where CHCs can enhance the patient experience, particularly in the domains of Coordination (Information Systems), Care Coordination, and Care Transitions. These findings underscored the need for targeted interventions to strengthen these aspects of primary care delivery, ultimately improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.</p>","PeriodicalId":72428,"journal":{"name":"BMC primary care","volume":"26 1","pages":"258"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12362950/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884410","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":"Obesity care knowledge and practice among primary care physicians in Klang valley: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Ganesh Sritheran Paneerselvam, Ling Siik Kee, Semira Abdi Beshir, Long Chiau Ming, Nada A Alsaleh, Alaa A Alsharif","doi":"10.1186/s12875-025-02946-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12875-025-02946-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Obesity has become a public health concern as its prevalence has increased rapidly around the world, including Malaysia. Primary care physicians (PCPs) are the first point of contact for obese patients, playing a crucial role in managing obesity. This study aims to determine the level of obesity care knowledge and practices among PCPs and to identify factors associated with them.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire distributed physically and online to PCPs. Pearson Chi-Square test was used to identify associations between demographic characteristics and obesity-related knowledge while the relationship between knowledge and practice scores was explored using regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 126 PCPs participated in the study. Of these, 72% demonstrated a good level of knowledge, and 66% showed good practices in obesity care. Use of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) was significantly associated with higher knowledge scores, while both CPG use and prior training were significantly associated with better practice scores (p < 0.05). A moderate positive correlation was observed between knowledge and practice scores (r = 0.397, p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PCPs have good obesity care knowledge and practice. Those using CPGs and with training were better prepared, resulting in improved practices. Enhancing awareness of these factors is crucial for future knowledge and practice improvements.</p>","PeriodicalId":72428,"journal":{"name":"BMC primary care","volume":"26 1","pages":"256"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12359962/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144877039","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":"Co-prescribing of antidepressants and opioids for non-cancer pain in England, 2010-2019: a descriptive study using CPRD primary care electronic health records.","authors":"Jake Butler, Rebecca M Joseph, Carol Coupland, Roger David Knaggs, Anthony J Avery, Richard Morriss, Debbie Butler, Louisa Gerrard, Dave Waldram, Ruth H Jack","doi":"10.1186/s12875-025-02956-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12875-025-02956-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There is a complex relationship between pain and mood disorders, and interactions between opioids and antidepressants can affect the effectiveness and adverse effects of these medicines when taken together. However, little is known about the scale of co-prescription for these medicines.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used routinely collected primary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink to describe the extent of opioid and antidepressant co-prescribing in over 4.3 million adults in England. Linked data included deprivation information and hospital episode statistics admitted patient care data to improve completeness of ethnicity information. We identified all primary care prescriptions of opioids and antidepressants between 2010 and 2019 and counted if an opioid and antidepressant prescription overlapped, and if so, for how long. People were censored at the first date of a record of cancer, terminal illness, heart failure or opioid misuse.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 4,355,694 people included in the study population. Of these, 304,029 (7.0%) had an opioid and antidepressant co-prescribed at least once during the study period. The prevalence of co-prescribing increased from 35.8 per 1000 person-years in 2010 to 44.1 in 2015 and then decreased to 39.2 in 2019. Co-prescribing rates were higher in females, older age groups, people living in more deprived areas and the White ethnic group. The overall median length of the opioid and antidepressant co-prescriptions was 29 days (interquartile range: 17 to 51 days). The most commonly co-prescribed medicines were codeine and amitriptyline, co-prescribed 235,017 times to 87,274 people. The second most commonly co-prescribed combination was codeine and citalopram, co-prescribed 55,792 times to 158,812 people. Combinations of opioids and antidepressants both metabolised by CYP2D6 were also common.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There is a substantial group of people co-prescribed opioids and antidepressants in England, including combinations that may be less effective. This information will be useful to help GPs, dispensing professionals, policymakers and others understand how many people in the UK may be at risk of harm from using both types of medicines at the same time, and which groups are particularly affected. Future research should determine whether there are higher risks of adverse events in these co-prescribed groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":72428,"journal":{"name":"BMC primary care","volume":"26 1","pages":"254"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12357414/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144862741","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":"Telehealth services for acute diseases management: principles, trends and challenges in selected health facilities in the greater Accra region, Ghana.","authors":"Jonathan Kissi, Godwin Adzakpah, Caleb Annobil, Nathan Kamasenu Mensah, Daniel Kwame Kwansah Quansah, Kennedy Dzamvivie, Vivian Kruh, Grace Amoah-Anomah, Abdul-Basit Kassim","doi":"10.1186/s12875-025-02961-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12875-025-02961-4","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;The health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 have welcomed the introduction of technology into healthcare delivery, desalinating the accessibility to healthcare delivery. With the recent outbreak of the COVID-19, telehealth services have been the preferred means of service delivery to a wider population in settings where the physician-to-patient ratio is low. The study's objective is to investigate the principles, trends and challenges of using telehealth services for acute disease management in some hospitals within the Greater Accra region of Ghana.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A cross-sectional, descriptive quantitative study was conducted among healthcare professionals across four government health facilities in the Greater Accra Region: Ada East District Hospital, Weija Gbawe Municipal Hospital, Oblogo Health Centre, and LEKMA Hospital. A structured questionnaire grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework was administered using a simple random sampling technique. A total of 439 participants, representing approximately 70% of the eligible population (n = 628), who actively use electronic health records systems, were recruited. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with STATA Version 15 and SPSS Version 23.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;In a cohort of 439 healthcare professionals surveyed, the majority fell within the 21-40 age range, and women made up nearly 60% of the participants. Most respondents held a bachelor's degree, with nurses, medical officers, and physician assistants forming the largest professional groups. Telehealth services were primarily used through phone calls, while fewer professionals used video conferencing or store-and-forward technologies. Overall, the frequency of telehealth service use was low, with many reporting that they used it rarely or only occasionally. The most common purpose for telehealth consultations was general care, followed by patient education and a smaller share for surgical consultations. Confirmatory factor analysis showed acceptable model fit supporting the validity of the measurement framework.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;The study found that healthcare professionals' satisfaction with telehealth services was most strongly influenced by how useful they perceived it to be. Telehealth services that were easier to use not only increased user satisfaction but also enhanced the perceived value of the tools. Interestingly, those who perceived higher levels of risk still tended to find the systems useful, although their overall satisfaction was slightly lower. Changes within healthcare organizations also had mixed effects, lowering perceptions of usefulness in some cases but slightly improving satisfaction. These findings suggest that strengthening system support, infrastructure, and aligning telehealth tools with clinical tasks can significantly encourage adoption in settings with limited ","PeriodicalId":72428,"journal":{"name":"BMC primary care","volume":"26 1","pages":"255"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12357336/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144862661","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":"Interprofessional collaboration on oral health for frail home-dwelling older people: a focus group study on needs and barriers experienced by general practitioners and community pharmacists.","authors":"Natalie Hoste, Ellen Baele, Aster De Vleeschauwer, Fien Mertens, Louise Poppe, Barbara Janssens, Peter Pype","doi":"10.1186/s12875-025-02955-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12875-025-02955-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite the increased risk of deteriorating oral health among older individuals, dental attendance often declines over time in frail home-dwelling older people (FHOP), resulting in a significant burden of untreated oral disease. Literature highlights the importance of interprofessional collaboration to address oral health problems in ageing societies, emphasising the potential roles of general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists. However, there is currently limited evidence regarding (a) their engagement in oral health and (b) the perceived needs and barriers in contributing collectively to the oral health of FHOP. Therefore, this study aims to explore the needs and barriers perceived by GPs and pharmacists regarding interprofessional collaboration on oral health for FHOP.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between February and December 2023, seven focus groups were conducted in two primary care zones in Flanders (Belgium) - five with GPs and two with pharmacists, involving a total of 51 participants. All conversations were recorded, transcribed, and analysed in NVivo using a reflexive thematic approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The identified barriers and needs for interprofessional collaboration were: limited engagement of GPs and pharmacists in oral health (theme 1), primarily due to a lack of knowledge and responsibility, time constraints, low outcome expectations, low prioritisation by FHOP, and the perception of oral health as a sensitive topic. Recognition of their potential roles was identified as a facilitator. Additionally, there is a need for improved interprofessional relationships (theme 2) and enhanced information exchange on oral health (theme 3), with the absence of a communication platform identified as a significant barrier. Limited accessibility of oral health professionals (OHPs) (theme 4) was also identified as an important barrier, which also contributed to frustrations of GPs towards OHPs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides novel insights into barriers to oral health engagement among GPs and pharmacists (micro level) and calls for improved communication and relationships between OHPs and GPs/pharmacists (meso level). Furthermore, it addresses macro-level obstacles to interprofessional collaboration, including a perceived shortage of OHPs, absence of a shared communication platform, and limited resources for preventive care.</p>","PeriodicalId":72428,"journal":{"name":"BMC primary care","volume":"26 1","pages":"253"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12351776/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144857140","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 pregnant women's intention to use mobile health apps and its determinants: applying the UTAUT model in a mixed-methods study.","authors":"Fateme Asadollahi, Samira Ebrahimzadeh Zagami, Robab Latifnejad Roudsari","doi":"10.1186/s12875-025-02950-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12875-025-02950-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prenatal care is vital for ensuring healthy pregnancies, yet many women face barriers such as geographic distance, socioeconomic limitations, and lack of transportation. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer a promising approach to improving access to prenatal care information. However, the motivations, barriers, and behaviors related to mHealth app use, particularly within diverse cultural and sociodemographic contexts, remain underexplored.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to investigate Iranian pregnant women's intention to use mobile health apps and identify its determinants using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design was employed, comprising qualitative content analysis followed by a quantitative survey. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 pregnant women and 7 healthcare professionals, guided by the UTAUT model. Directed content analysis was used to explore participants' experiences and perceptions. In the quantitative phase, a cross-sectional survey based on the UTAUT framework was administered to 60 pregnant women. Inclusion criteria included being currently pregnant, having access to a smartphone, and using an mHealth app for prenatal care. Participants were recruited via email and social media platforms. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29. A concurrent triangulation approach was used to integrate qualitative and quantitative findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Qualitative findings indicated that performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), and facilitating conditions (FC) shaped behavioral intentions to use mHealth apps. Participants appreciated features such as appointment reminders and symptom trackers, but also raised concerns regarding information accuracy and app usability. Social influences from peers and healthcare providers were especially influential. Quantitative results confirmed that PE (B = 0.47, p < .001), EE (B = 0.35, p = .009), and SI (B = 0.28, p = .049) were significant predictors of behavioral intention to use mHealth apps. FC (B = 0.23, p = .131), however, did not have a statistically significant direct effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The integration of qualitative and quantitative findings offers a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing pregnant women's behavioral intentions to use mHealth apps. To enhance adoption and effectiveness, mHealth app design should prioritize usability, credibility, and support mechanisms tailored to prenatal care needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":72428,"journal":{"name":"BMC primary care","volume":"26 1","pages":"252"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12337463/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144823318","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":"The role of link workers in weight management for people with severe mental illness: a qualitative study.","authors":"Rija Imran, Alexandra Kenny, Geoffrey Wong, Charlotte Lee","doi":"10.1186/s12875-025-02929-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12875-025-02929-4","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72428,"journal":{"name":"BMC primary care","volume":"26 1","pages":"251"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12335018/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144812742","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":"Association between housing status and mental health and substance use severity among individuals with opioid use disorder and co-occurring depression and/or PTSD.","authors":"Lauren Kelly, Grace M Hindmarch, Katherine E Watkins, Colleen M McCullough, Beth Ann Griffin, Lisa S Meredith, Sapna Mendon-Plasek, Miriam Komaromy, Sarah B Hunter","doi":"10.1186/s12875-025-02947-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12875-025-02947-2","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72428,"journal":{"name":"BMC primary care","volume":"26 1","pages":"250"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12333051/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144805401","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":"Resident primary care practitioners' awareness and handling of zoonotic diseases: an explorative online survey in the Hameln-Pyrmont district, Lower Saxony, Germany.","authors":"Michael W Scheider, Lothar Kreienbrock, Thomas von Lengerke","doi":"10.1186/s12875-025-02918-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12875-025-02918-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Primary care practitioners often are the first medical professionals to see patients with zoonoses. So far, studies on awareness and management of zoonoses in primary care have focused on specific zoonoses, most prominently Lyme disease. Additionally, (diagnostic) uncertainty vs. confidence of this group of practitioners regarding zoonoses has rarely been examined. Finally, little is known about zoonoses in primary care in Germany. This study aims to describe German resident primary care practitioners' awareness and handling of zoonoses, and their confidence regarding diagnostics, therapy, and transmission.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional online survey of primary care practitioners in the Hameln-Pyrmont district, Germany, was conducted between November 6, 2022-January 5, 2023 via regional physician associations. Items on practitioners' awareness and handling of zoonoses in practice were designed to fit the study's aims, and explicitly excluded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Data were analyzed descriptively and by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and t-tests for paired samples.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>N = 43 of the 88 practitioners in the district took the survey (response rate: 48.9%). Zoonoses were seen as more relevant than for the time period before COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Among the up to three zoonoses respondents could mention to occur in practice, borreliosis (21 of 98 mentions overall), salmonellosis (10) and toxoplasmosis (7) were named most often. Practitioners' confidence ratings on diagnostics, therapy, and transmission of zoonoses were higher for self-reported zoonoses than for zoonoses in general (with few exceptions, differences were statistically significant: p ≤ 0.030). Confidence was higher for transmission than for diagnostics and therapy for self-mentioned zoonoses and zoonoses in general (p ≤ 0.012). Ratings for diagnostics and therapy did not show statistical significance. Almost two thirds of the respondents (64.7%) did not know the term \"One Health\".</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Borreliosis appears to be the zoonosis with the highest level of attention in primary care. Results on confidence regarding diagnostics and therapy indicate capacities in terms of relatively high confidence regarding salient zoonoses, and room for improvement signified by the lower confidence regarding diagnostics and therapy than transmission. Awareness of uncertainties regarding zoonoses in primary care may trigger continuing medical education, cooperation between medical doctors and veterinarians, and One Health implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":72428,"journal":{"name":"BMC primary care","volume":"26 1","pages":"249"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12333134/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144805402","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}