Access to diagnostic tests during GP out-of-hours care: A cross-sectional study of all GP out-of-hours services in the Netherlands

Background: In general practice, excluding serious conditions is one of the cornerstones of the consultation. Diagnostic tests are widely used to assist the decision-making process in these cases. Little is known about general practitioners’ (GPs) access to diagnostic tests at GP out-of-hours services.

Objectives: To determine GPs’ access to diagnostic tests—imaging, function tests, laboratory tests, and point-of-care tests (POCT)—during GP out-of-hours care and to assess whether access to diagnostic facilities differs between services located adjacent to or separate from an accident and emergency (A&E) department.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of all 117 GP out-of-hours services in the Netherlands in 2014.

Results: One-hundred-seventeen GP out-of-hours services participated in the survey; response rate 100%. Access to diagnostic tests during GP out-of-hours care varied across services, although generally there was limited access. Electrocardiography was available in 26% (30/117) of all services, conventional radiography in 19% (22/117), laboratory tests between 37% (43/117) and 65% (76/117). All services had glucose POCT and urine dipstick tests available while none utilized troponin POCT. We observed no relevant differences in access to diagnostic tests between services adjacent to or separate from an A&E department.

Conclusion: GPs in the Netherlands had limited and varying access to diagnostic tests during GP out-of-hours care in 2014. Out-of-hours services adjacent to A&E departments do not offer wider access to diagnostic tests. Further research on the accessibility of diagnostic tests in other European countries with similar and different GP out-of-hours care systems could shed further light on the effects of accessibility to diagnostic tests.

Key Messages

• Our study shows that in 2014, GPs in the Netherlands had limited and varying access to diagnostic tests (imaging, function tests, laboratory tests and point-of-care tests) during GP out-of-hours care.

• Diagnostic tests are not more widely available to GPs working at GP out-of-hours services adjacent to hospitals with an accident and emergency department.

     

Effects of access to radiology in out-of-hours primary care on patient satisfaction and length of stay

BackgroundDirect access to hospital radiology facilities by general practitioner (GP) cooperatives is known to decrease the number of emergency department referrals, but the effects on length of stay (LOS; time from patient arrival at GP cooperative till departure to home) and patient experiences are unclear.ObjectivesTo provide insight into the LOS and experiences of trauma patients with an indication for radiology at GP cooperatives with and without access to radiology.MethodsA multi-methods observational study in April 2014–October 2015 at six GP cooperatives in The Netherlands, covering three organisational models for access to radiology: no direct access, limited access and unlimited access. Patient experiences were measured with a questionnaire. Patient records were analysed for background characteristics, radiology outcomes, referral and LOS.ResultsIn total 657 patients were included, 232 no direct access model, 307 limited access model and 118 unlimited access model. The mean LOS was 99 minutes, with a significant difference between GP cooperatives without access to radiology (121 minutes), with limited access (86 minutes), and with unlimited access (90 minutes). The differences were larger for patients without radiological abnormalities. On a ten-point scale, patients rated GP cooperatives with unlimited access to radiology higher (8.62) than those without access (8.36) or with limited access (8.39).ConclusionAccess to radiology by GP cooperatives seems to reduce the length of stay and is slightly more appreciated by patients. GP cooperatives with unlimited access seem to provide the most efficient and best-valued care, contributing to more patient-centred care.     

Citizens advice in primary care for families with young children

BACKGROUND: Citizens advice can help clients avoid the worst consequences of poverty and hence has the potential to reduce inequalities in health. Previous studies of providing citizens advice from primary care have concentrated largely on older clients. AIM: To measure the benefits obtained by families with young children from a citizens advice service in primary care. METHOD: An advice worker was placed in three practices. Eligible families had a child less than 1 year of age. Quantitative analysis of data on benefits obtained by all families using the service was performed. Qualitative analysis of interviews with five users and five non-users of the service was undertaken. RESULTS: Out of 107 families recruited, 23 used the CAB service, seeking advice on 49 different problems and obtaining benefit on 32 of these, most frequently on welfare benefits, debt management and housing. One-off financial benefits totalled pound sterlings 17 857 with annual recurring payments of pound sterlings 6480. The interviews raised five general themes: (1) the stresses surrounding the birth of a child; (2) factors associated with uptake of the service; (3) the content and value of the advice received; (4) the benefits to their health of the advice; and (5) their perception of the links between health and financial adversity. CONCLUSIONS: Citizens advice offers considerable benefits to families with young children. It may have positive effects on maternal and child health. An advice service is a useful component of primary health care for young families.     

反复呼吸道感染婴幼儿末梢血元素水平临床分析

目的 通过分析末梢血钙、锌、铁、镁、铜水平与儿童反复呼吸道感染(RRTI)的相关性,进而评价各元素水平在RRTI儿童中的意义。方法 以2015年11月-2016年3月在承德市中心医院儿科门诊就诊或体检准备行末梢血元素检测的6个月~4岁儿童为研究对象,随机抽取患有RRTI儿童132例为研究组,并将同期门诊体检的健康儿童设为对照组,其中每组按年龄分三个年龄段,1岁以下、1～2岁和2岁以上。采用北京博晖BH5100S型原子吸光光谱仪测定元素水平。测定数据采用SPSS 19.0统计学软件分析。结果 1)研究组与对照组各年龄段血锌水平、1岁以下血钙水平、2岁以上血钙和血铁水平比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05或<0.01);各年龄段血镁、血铜水平比较,差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。2)五种元素的相关性分析,钙、锌、铁三者之间呈正相关。结论 RRTI儿童与锌元素缺乏密切相关,与钙、铁元素缺乏也存在一定的关系,三者之间在代谢过程中可能存在协同作用。     

外科手术麻醉后发生下呼吸道感染的临床分析及对策

目的 探讨外科手术麻醉后发生下呼吸道感染的因素及相应对策.方法 选取2009年1月-2011年8月于医院进行治疗的825例外科手术麻醉患者为研究对象,将其中下呼吸道感染的发生率及其发生感染的相关因素进行调查研究.结果 825例患者中共发生下呼吸道感染46例,感染率为5.58％,其中全身麻醉患者感染率为7.76％,高于其他麻醉方式,神经外科感染率为11.62％,高于其他科室,≥60岁患者感染率为7.27％,高于＜60岁患者,抗菌药物不合理应用者感染率为10.78％,高于其他患者,合并基础疾病≥2种感染率为11.24％,高于1种及无合并疾病者,急诊手术感染率为10.64％,高于择期手术,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05);经合理治疗均痊愈出院.结论 外科手术麻醉后发生下呼吸道感染的因素较多,应引起重视,已经发生感染者应给予合理处理.     

小儿反复呼吸道感染的相关因素分析

目的 探讨分析小儿反复呼吸道感染的相关因素.方法 选取医院2008年5月-2010年5月收治的335例反复呼吸道感染患儿设为观察组,选择同期普通病房收治的呼吸道感染患儿335例设为对照组;采集所有患儿的静脉血5 ml,采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测血清EB病毒(EBV)-IgM,采用间接血球凝集法测定肺炎支原体(MP)-IgM,采用中生金域诊断技术有限公司小儿佝偻病诊断人骨碱性磷酸酶(BALP)试剂盒,测定BALP,所有操作严格按试剂盒说明进行,判定标准以试剂盒要求标准为准,每一种测定方法均由固定检验员在同一操作条件下完成.结果 观察组患儿中28.4％、对照组患儿中有11.0％血清中检测出EBV-IgM;观察组患儿中37.0％、对照组患儿中有13.4％血清检测MP-IgM呈阳性;观察组患儿中32.8％、对照组患儿中有6.0％血清检测BALP呈阳性,两组经统计学比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).结论 EBV、MP病毒感染和维生素D缺乏,是造成小儿反复呼吸道感染的重要因素,反复呼吸道感染患儿应注意EBV、MP感染及维生素D缺乏的诊治,防止继发疾病的发生.     

Welfare benefits advice in primary care: evidence of improvements in health

It is not uncommon for welfare benefits advice organisations to offer services in primary care settings. Given the link between deprivation and poor health, the maximising of individual income in this way may also be expected to improve health. However, such improvement has hitherto not been successfully measured. This paper reports on a small study of such a service, provided by the local Citizens Advice Bureau. Statistically significant increases in SF-36 scores were measured for those whose income increased as a result of receiving advice, despite the prevalence in the group (average age 56 y) of chronic disabling conditions such as arthritis and sensory impairment. These findings suggest that 'prescribing advice' is a health intervention which is appropriately situated in primary care.     

Accuracy of physician billing claims for identifying acute respiratory infections in primary care

Objective. To assess the accuracy of physician billing claims for identifying acute respiratory infections in primary care. Study Setting. Nine primary care physician practices in Montreal, Canada (2002–2005). Study Design. A validation study was carried out to compare diagnoses in 3,526 physician billing claims with diagnoses documented in the corresponding patient medical records. Data Collection. In‐office medical record abstraction. Principal Findings. Claims had a high positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value, and specificity for identifying respiratory infections; however, their sensitivity was below 50 percent. Large variation in sensitivity and PPV was observed among physicians. Conclusions. Because claims data are now routinely used to monitor antibiotic prescribing in primary care, future research should determine if acute respiratory infection diagnoses are missing from claims at random, or if bias is present.     

Persistence of upper respiratory tract infections in a cohort followed from childhood to adulthood

OBJECTIVE: To assess (1) prevalences of recurrent URTIs (rURTIs) and relapsing/persistent rURTIs and associated medical consumption between 0 and 21 years of age and (2) whether rURTIs experienced in early life predispose to upper airway disease later in life. METHODS: A cohort of all children born in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, between September 1982 and September 1983, was assessed repeatedly from 2 to 21 years of age with questionnaires regarding infections of the upper respiratory tract (URTIs), use of antibiotics, ENT operations and known risk factors for URTIs. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-one of the 693 cohort member (23%) suffered from relapsing rURTIs between 0 and 21 years of age, whereas only 7 (1%) suffered from persistent rURTIs throughout this period. Two hundred and six (30%) had used antibiotics more than once; and 220 (32%) had undergone at least one ENT operation. Of the 166 participants with rURTI between 8 and 21 years, 140 (84%) had had rURTI before. CONCLUSIONS: rURTIs are highly prevalent throughout early life and associated medical consumption is substantial. The challenge therefore is to develop therapeutic/preventive strategies that will prevent rURTIs in the first years of life.     

重症监护病房下呼吸道医院感染鲍曼不动杆菌的耐药性分析

目的:调查重症监护病房(ICU)下呼吸道医院感染鲍曼不动杆菌的耐药情况,指导临床医师合理用药。方法:对医院ICU自2009年1月-2010年12月气管插管或气管切开患者下呼吸道分泌物标本做细菌培养,获得鲍曼不动杆菌83株,并进行药敏结果分析。结果:对鲍曼不动杆菌敏感率最高的是阿米卡星(85.5%),其次为米诺环素(71.0%),其他抗菌药物敏感率<50.0%。结论:ICU下呼吸道医院感染的鲍曼不动杆菌耐药现象非常严重,应继续加强对该菌的监测与控制,严防耐药菌株在ICU暴发流行。     

Citizens advice in primary care: a qualitative study of the views and experiences of service users and staff

Objectives

To examine the views and experiences of staff and users of Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) services located in general practice, and to identify key factors perceived as contributing to the intervention’s effectiveness.

Study design

A qualitative study in an urban and rural primary care setting in the UK.

Methods

Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews (n = 22) with primary care and practice staff, CAB advisors and 12 service users.

Results

Key positive service features reported by all groups were: the confidential, non-stigmatizing and familiar environment of a general practitioner’s (GP) surgery; the ability to make appointments and experienced advisor availability and continuity. Outcomes for service users were described as financial gain, managed debt, and beneficial social and mental health impacts. Perceived staff benefits were appropriate referral and better use of GP consultation time.

Conclusion

Welfare advice in primary care has financial benefits and was perceived by participants to offer health and other benefits to patients and staff. However, while perceptions of gain from the intervention were evident, demonstration of measurable health improvement and well-being presents challenges. Further empirical work is needed in order to explore these complex cause-effect links and the cost-effectiveness of the intervention.     

成人社区获得性下呼吸道感染患者的病原菌检测及耐药性分析

目的 探讨成人社区获得性下呼吸道感染患者的病原菌检测及耐药性,为其诊断与治疗提供依据.方法 选取2011年1-12月于医院进行治疗的108例成人社区获得性下呼吸道感染患者为研究对象,对其痰标本进行检测,对检出病原菌分布及耐药性进行研究分析.结果 108例患者共检出104株病原菌,其中革兰阴性菌71株占68.27％,革兰阳性菌28株占26.92％,真菌5株占4.81％,革兰阴性菌的检出率明显高于其他菌株,而耐药率方面各菌株也存在一定差异.结论 成人社区获得性下呼吸道感染患者的病原菌仍以革兰阴性菌为主,且耐药性也较为突出,在诊断及用药过程中应给予重视.     

商州地区5岁以下小儿下呼吸道感染1 200例病原学检测分析

目的 分析商州地区1 200例5岁以下小儿下呼吸道感染患儿的病原学检测结果,为临床诊治提供参考依据。 方法 对商州地区1 200例5岁以下下呼吸道感染患儿呼吸道分泌物进行病原学鉴定和药敏试验,并对检测结果进行统计学分析。 结果 <3个月的下呼吸道感染的患儿病原检测阳性率最高,高达75.9%(309/407),病原检测的阳性率随患儿年龄增大逐渐降低。3岁以下患儿以感染呼吸道合胞病毒最常见。患儿细菌感染以肺炎克雷伯菌最常见,肺炎链球菌和大肠埃希菌次之。肺炎球菌对于头孢类药物以及非常规使用的抗生素诸如利福平、氯霉素、万古霉素等敏感性好。肺炎克雷伯菌以及大肠埃希菌对于亚胺培南均有很高的敏感性。 结论 病毒学检测、细菌学检测以及细菌药敏试验对于下呼吸道感染的诊断及治疗均有着重要的意义。     

反复呼吸道感染学龄前儿童父母焦虑情况分析

目的:分析反复呼吸道感染学龄前儿童父母的焦虑情况。方法:在5所幼儿园选择4～5岁反复呼吸道感染学龄前儿童父母各145例为观察组,同龄健康儿童父母各244例为对照组,采用《汉密顿焦虑量表》对儿童父母进行焦虑症状的评定。结果:观察组焦虑症状检出率、焦虑症状得分与对照组差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01);观察组儿童父亲与母亲的焦虑症状检出率、焦虑症状得分比较差异也有统计学意义(P<0.05);父母焦虑症状与文化程度、家庭关系、经济状况等没有明显相关性。结论:反复呼吸道感染学龄前儿童父母的焦虑症状比正常儿童父母严重,而且儿童母亲的焦虑症状更为明显和广泛;父母的焦虑症状与文化程度、家庭关系、经济状况等无明显关系。     

小儿下呼吸道感染病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的了解小儿下呼吸道感染病原菌的分布及对常用抗菌药物的耐药性。方法选择在医院治疗的320例下呼吸道感染患儿,年龄2d～12岁,其中男172例,女148例;对所有患者的痰液进行细菌培养以及药敏试验。结果 320例患者中共培养出264株病原菌,其中革兰阴性菌168株,占63.6%,分布在前几位的是铜绿假单胞菌、大肠埃希菌以及不动杆菌属等,革兰阳性菌70株,占26.6%,其中以表皮葡萄球菌和金黄色葡萄球菌为主,真菌26株,占9.8%,以白色假丝酵母菌为主;药敏试验表明,革兰阴性菌耐药性最低为亚胺培南,而对于革兰阳性菌的耐药性最高为头孢一代,最低为万古霉素。结论小儿下呼吸道感染病原菌以革兰阴性菌为主,严重感染可选用亚胺培南。     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者心脏瓣膜置换术的呼吸道管理及护理

回顾性分析32例慢性阻塞性肺疾病（chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,COPD）患者行心脏瓣膜置换术围手术期的呼吸道管理及护理,主要对其肺功能评估、呼吸功能锻炼、呼吸机的应用及常规专科护理进行分析总结,从而探讨COPD患者心脏瓣膜置换术围手术期的呼吸道管理及护理经验。对COPD患者行开胸手术前后加强呼吸道管理及护理对术后患者的顺利康复具有关键的作用。     

莫西沙星联合头孢氨苄治疗老年患者下呼吸道细菌感染的临床疗效

目的探讨莫西沙星联合头孢氨苄治疗老年患者下呼吸道细菌感染的临床疗效及安全性,为临床治疗提供依据。方法收集2013年3月-2014年3月接受治疗的老年下呼吸道细菌感染患者100例,按照随机数字表格法分为观察组与对照组,每组各50例,其中观察组给予莫西沙星联合头孢氨苄治疗,对照组给予头孢氨苄治疗,比较两组患者的临床疗效及不良反应的发生,数据采用SPSS17.0统计软件进行处理。结果下呼吸道感染老年患者共检出病原菌103株,其中革兰阴性菌64株、革兰阳性菌20株、真菌19株,分别占62.1%、19.4%、18.5%;观察组患者治疗总有效率为92.0%,明显高于对照组的72.0%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组患者在体温恢复、咳嗽消失、肺部啰音消失、白细胞计数恢复等临床症状、体征消失时间比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);不良反应发生观察组有4例、对照组有5例,两组不良反应发生比较,差异无统计学意义。结论莫西沙星联合头孢氨苄治疗老年患者呼吸道感染的效果明显,不良反应小,可将其作为治疗老年呼吸道感染重要方法。