Help-seeking preferences for psychological distress in primary care:: effect of current mental state

Background

There is much debate over when it is appropriate to intervene medically for psychological distress, and limited evidence on patients'' perspectives about a broad range of possible treatment options. It is currently unclear whether preferences may differ for those patients with milder symptoms compared to those experiencing more severe distress.

Aim

To determine patient preferences for professional, informal, and alternative help for psychological distress in primary care, and the impact of their current mental state on these.

Design of study

Cross-sectional survey in seven general practices across suburban/urban London.

Method

Participants were 1357 consecutive general practice attenders aged 18 years and over. The main outcome measure was the General Health Questionnaire 12-item version and a questionnaire on help-seeking preferences.

Results

Overall, only 47% of participants reported wanting ‘some help’ if feeling stressed, worried, or low and it was affecting their daily life. Those currently experiencing mild-to-moderate distress preferred informal sources of help such as friends/family support, relaxation/yoga, exercise/sport, or massage along with general advice from their GP and talking therapies. Self-help (books/leaflets or computer/internet) was not popular at any level of distress, and less favoured by those with mild-tomoderate distress (odds ratio [OR] = 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35 to 0.70). Those experiencing severe distress were much more likely to want talking therapies (OR = 3.43, 95% CI = 2.85 to 4.14), tablets (OR = 3.07, 95% CI = 2.00 to 4.71), and support groups (OR = 3.07, 95% CI = 1.72 to 5.47).

Conclusion

People with mild-to-moderate distress appear to prefer informal sources of help and those involving human contact, compared to medication or self-help. This has implications for the implementation of potential interventions for psychological distress in primary care.     

Self-monitoring and other non-pharmacological interventions to improve the management of hypertension in primary care: a systematic review

Background

Patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) in the community frequently fail to meet treatment goals: a condition labelled as ‘uncontrolled’ hypertension. The optimal way to organise and deliver care to hypertensive patients has not been clearly identified.

Aim

To determine the effectiveness of interventions to improve control of blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

Design of study

Systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

Setting

Primary and ambulatory care.

Method

Interventions were categorised as following: self-monitoring; educational interventions directed to the patient; educational interventions directed to the health professional; health professional- (nurse or pharmacist) led care; organisational interventions that aimed to improve the delivery of care; and appointment reminder systems. Outcomes assessed were mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, control of blood pressure and proportion of patients followed up at clinic.

Results

Seventy-two RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The trials showed a wide variety of methodological quality. Self-monitoring was associated with net reductions in systolic blood pressure (weighted mean difference [WMD] −2.5mmHg, 95%CI = −3.7 to −1.3 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (WMD −1.8mmHg, 95%CI = −2.4 to −1.2 mmHg). An organised system of regular review allied to vigorous antihypertensive drug therapy was shown to reduce blood pressure and all-cause mortality in a single large randomised controlled trial.

Conclusion

Antihypertensive drug therapy should be implemented by means of a vigorous stepped care approach when patients do not reach target blood pressure levels. Self-monitoring is a useful adjunct to care while reminder systems and nurse/pharmacist -led care require further evaluation.     

A clinical prediction rule for meniscal tears in primary care: development and internal validation using a multicentre study

Background

In primary care, meniscal tears are difficult to detect. A quick and easy clinical prediction rule based on patient history and a single meniscal test may help physicians to identify high-risk patients for referral for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Aim

The study objective was to develop and internally validate a clinical prediction rule (CPR) for the detection of meniscal tears in primary care.

Design and setting

In a cross-sectional multicentre study, 121 participants from primary care were included if they were aged 18–65 years with knee complaints that existed for <6 months, and who were suspected to suffer from a meniscal tear.

Method

One diagnostic physical meniscal test and 14 clinical variables were considered to be predictors of MRI outcome. Using known predictors for the presence of meniscal tears, a ‘quick and easy’ CPR was derived.

Results

The final CPR included the variables sex, age, weight-bearing during trauma, performing sports, effusion, warmth, discolouration, and Deep Squat test. The final model had an AUC of 0.76 (95% CI = 0.72 to 0.80). A cut-point of 150 points yielded an overall sensitivity of 86.1% and a specificity of 45.5%. For this cut-point, the positive predictive value was 55.0%, and the negative predictive value was 81.1%. A scoring system was provided including the corresponding predicted probabilities for a meniscal tear.

Conclusion

The CPR improved the detection of meniscal tears in primary care. Further evaluation of the CPR in new primary care patients is needed, however, to assess its usefulness.     

Weekend opening in primary care: analysis of the General Practice Patient Survey

Background

Seven-day opening in primary care is a key policy for the UK government. However, it is unclear if weekend opening will meet patients’ needs or lead to additional demand.

Aim

To identify patient groups most likely to use weekend opening in primary care.

Design and setting

The General Practice Patient Survey 2014, which sampled from all general practices in England, was used.

Method

Logistic regression was used to measure the associations between perceived benefit from seeing or speaking to someone at the weekend and age, sex, deprivation, health conditions, functioning, work status, rurality, and quality of life.

Results

Out of 881 183 participants who responded to the questionnaire, 712 776 (80.9%) did not report any problems with opening times. Of the 168 407 responders (19.1%) who reported inconvenient opening times, 73.9% stated that Saturday opening, and 35.8% Sunday opening, would make it easier for them to see or speak to someone. Only 2.2% of responders reported that Sunday, but not Saturday, opening would make it easier for them. Younger people, those who work full time, and those who could not get time off work were more likely to report that weekend opening would help. People with Alzheimer’s disease, learning difficulties, or problems with walking, washing, or dressing were less likely to report that weekend opening would help.

Conclusion

Most people do not think they need weekend opening, but it may benefit certain patient groups, such as younger people in full-time work. Sunday opening, in addition to Saturday, is unlikely to improve access.     

Prevalence and management of chronic insomnia in Swiss primary care: Cross‐sectional data from the “Sentinella” practice‐based research network

We investigated the prevalence and treatment of patients with chronic insomnia presenting to Swiss primary care physicians (PCPs) part of “Sentinella”, a nationwide practice‐based research network. Each PCP consecutively asked 40 patients if they had sleep complaints, documented frequency, duration, comorbidities, and reported ongoing treatment. We analysed data of 63% (83/132) of the PCPs invited. The PCPs asked 76% (2,432/3,216) of included patients about their sleep (51% female); 31% (761/2,432) of these had had insomnia symptoms; 36% (875/2,432) had current insomnia symptoms; 11% (269/2,432) met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM‐5) criteria for chronic insomnia (61% female). In all, 75% (201/269) of patients with chronic insomnia had comorbidities, with 49% (99/201) reporting depression. Chronic insomnia was treated in 78% (209/269); 70% (188/268) took medication, 38% (102/268) benzodiazepines or benzodiazepine receptor agonists, 32% (86/268) took antidepressants. Only 1% (three of 268) had been treated with cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT‐I). A third of patients presenting for a non‐urgent visit in Swiss primary care reported insomnia symptoms and 11% met the DSM‐5 criteria for chronic insomnia. Hypnotics were the most common treatment, but almost no patients received first‐line CBT‐I. Reducing the burden of insomnia depends on disseminating knowledge about and access to CBT‐I, and encouraging PCPs to discuss it with and offer it as a first‐line treatment to patients with chronic insomnia.     

Judgements about fellow professionals and the management of patients receiving palliative care in primary care: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Policies emphasise the importance of collaborative working in community palliative care. Collaborations are generally formed through formal and informal referral processes, but little is known about what influences professionals' decisions to refer to such services. AIM: To explore the influences on referrals within general and specialist community palliative care services. DESIGN OF STUDY: Qualitative, multiple-case study. SETTING: Three primary care trusts in the north-west of England. METHOD: Multiple data collection methods were employed, including documentary analysis, observation of referral team meetings and interviews. This paper primarily reports data from interviews with 47 health professionals, including GPs, district nurses, and specialist palliative care professionals. RESULTS: Judgements -- positive and negative -- about aspects of fellow professionals' performances appeared to influence referral decisions and ongoing collaboration and care. Attributes upon which these judgements were based included professional responsiveness and communication, respect, working and workload management practices, perceived expertise, and notions of elite practice. The effects of such judgements on referral and healthcare practices were altered by professional "game playing" to achieve professionals' desired outcomes. CONCLUSION: Palliative care policies and protocols need to take account of these complex and subtle influences on referrals and collaboration. In particular, teamwork and partnership are encouraged within palliative care work, but critical judgements indicate that such partnerships may be difficult or fragile. It is likely that such judgemental attitudes and practices affect many aspects of primary care, not just palliative care.     

Patients’ care dependency in mental health care: Development of a self‐report questionnaire and preliminary correlates

Objectives

Patients’ dependency on the therapist or treatment has received little empirical attention. To examine care dependency, we aimed to develop a theory‐driven questionnaire based on three hypothetical dimensions (passive–submissive dependency; active‐emotional dependency; and lack of perceived alternatives) and to provide a preliminary exploration of several correlates of care dependency.

Method

Care dependency, perceived social support, therapeutic alliance, remoralization, and symptom severity were measured in a large cross‐sectional sample of 742 outpatients with various psychiatric disorders. Test–retest reliability was established in a smaller patient sample.

Results

Findings indicated a reliable questionnaire measuring three unidimensional subscales of care dependency (i.e., submissive dependency, need for contact, and lack of perceived alternatives; α’s .74, .81, and .86 respectively; r_t1,t2’s .78, .76, and .80, respectively). These subscales were all positively correlated with each other and with patients’ self‐proclaimed care dependency, but divergent from patients’ trait dependency and symptoms of a dependent personality disorder. Moreover, higher levels of care dependency were correlated with lower levels of remoralization and more symptoms severity, and with a better therapeutic alliance.

Conclusions

A reliable and valid questionnaire was developed to measure patients’ care dependency. Future studies are needed to determine whether care dependency covers an unwanted side‐effect or a crucial ingredient of an effective treatment.

     

Interprofessional relationships and communication in primary palliative care: impact of the Gold Standards Framework.

BACKGROUND: High quality end-of-life care in the community is achieved with effective multidisciplinary teamwork, interprofessional communication between GPs and district nurses, and early referral of patients to district nurses. These aspects of palliative care are highlighted in the Gold Standards Framework, a programme recently established in UK primary care. AIM: To investigate the extent to which the framework influences interprofessional relationships and communication, and to compare GPs' and nurses' experiences. DESIGN OF STUDY: Qualitative interview case study. SETTING: Fifteen participating practices from three primary care trusts in England. METHOD: Thirty-eight semi-structured interviews were undertaken with GPs, district nurses, Macmillan nurses, and framework facilitators. RESULTS: Adoption of the framework often resulted in earlier referral of palliative care patients to district nurses. Multidisciplinary team meetings enabled communication for sharing knowledge, discussing management problems, and keeping colleagues informed; however, arranging and maintaining such meetings was often problematic. Nurses particularly valued formal meetings while GPs generally preferred informal ad hoc dialogue. GPs largely maintained control of the mode of multidisciplinary working. The best functioning teams used a mixture of formal and informal meetings with a relatively non-hierarchical working style. CONCLUSION: Implementing the framework enabled processes of communication associated with high quality palliative care in general practice, but there was marked variation in how this worked in individual teams. In general, hierarchical doctor-nurse relationships persisted.     

Enhancing a primary care environment: a case study of effects on patients and staff in a single general practice

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the effect on patients and staff of the physical environment in primary care facilities. AIM: To explore changes in patient and staff satisfaction, patient anxiety, and patient-doctor communication when a GP surgery moves from old premises to enhanced purpose-built accommodation. DESIGN OF STUDY: Questionnaire surveys, interviews, and focus groups pre- and post move. SETTING: An urban general practice in Bristol. METHOD: Patient questionnaires assessed anxiety (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI), satisfaction with the environment, and communication during the consultation. Staff questionnaires assessed satisfaction with the environment and job satisfaction. Qualitative methods explored patient and staff views in more depth. RESULTS: A total of 1118 pre-move and 954 post-move patient questionnaires showed significant increases in satisfaction scores for reception/waiting areas (mean 6.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]=5.97 to 6.95) and consulting rooms (mean 3.80, 95% CI=3.44 to 4.15) in the new premises. Patients' satisfaction with patient-doctor communication also increased (mean 0.88, 95% CI=0.30 to 1.46) and anxiety scores were significantly reduced before and after the consultation in the new premises compared with the old (STAI mean difference before consultation 0.72, 95% CI=0.37 to 1.08; mean after consultation 0.37, 95% CI=0.03 to 0.72). Patients highlighted the increased space and light, more modern appearance, greater comfort, and novel works of art in the new surgery. Staff workplace satisfaction increased significantly after moving and remained higher than in the old building. CONCLUSION: This large-scale study examining the effects of a UK primary care environment on patients and staff shows that an enhanced environment is associated with improvements in patients' perception of patient-doctor communication, reduction in anxiety, and increases in patient and staff satisfaction.     

Diagnosing depression in primary care using self-completed instruments: UK validation of PHQ-9 and CORE-OM.

There is increased emphasis on routine assessment of depression in primary care. This report is the first UK validation of two self-completed measures: the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). Optimum cut-off points were established against a diagnostic gold standard in 93 patients. PHQ-9 sensitivity = 91.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 77.5 to 98.3%) and specificity 78.3% (95% CI = 65.8 to 87.9%). CORE-OM sensitivity = 91.7% (95% CI = 77.5 to 98.2%) and specificity = 76.7% (95% CI = 64.0 to 86.6%). Brief self-rated questionnaires are as good as clinician-administered instruments in detecting depression in UK primary care.     

Validating the prediction of lower urinary tract infection in primary care: sensitivity and specificity of urinary dipsticks and clinical scores in women

Background

Dipsticks are one of the most commonly used near-patient tests in primary care, but few clinical or dipstick algorithms have been rigorously developed.

Aim

To confirm whether previously documented clinical and dipstick variables and algorithms predict laboratory diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI).

Design of study

Validation study.

Setting

Primary care.

Method

A total of 434 adult females with suspected lower UTI had bacteriuria assessed using the European Urinalysis Guidelines.

Results

Sixty-six per cent of patients had confirmed UTI. The predictive values of nitrite, leucocyte esterase (+ or greater), and blood (haemolysed trace or greater) were confirmed (independent multivariate odds ratios = 5.6, 3.5, and 2.1 respectively). The previously developed dipstick rule — based on presence of nitrite, or both leucocytes and blood — was moderately sensitive (75%) but less specific (66%; positive predictive value [PPV] 81%, negative predictive value [NPV] 57%). Predictive values were improved by varying the cut-off point: NPV was 76% for all three dipstick results being negative; the PPV was 92% for having nitrite and either blood or leucocyte esterase. Urine offensive smell was not found to be predictive in this sample; for a clinical score using the remaining three predictive clinical features (urine cloudiness, dysuria, and nocturia), NPV was 67% for none of the features, and PPV was 82% for three features.

Conclusion

A clinical score is of limited value in increasing diagnostic precision. Dipstick results can modestly improve diagnostic precision but poorly rule out infection. Clinicians need strategies to take account of poor NPVs.     

Validation of a clinical rule to predict complications of acute cough in preschool children: a prospective study in primary care

BACKGROUND: Few clinical rules have been derived let alone validated in primary care. A rule was derived to predict complications of acute cough in preschool children presenting to primary care. The clinical rule used the presence/absence of fever and/or chest signs to distinguish children at low, medium, and high risk of complications. AIM: To validate a clinical rule for predicting complications of acute cough in preschool children in primary care. DESIGN OF STUDY: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Thirteen general practices in Bristol and Tayside, UK. METHOD: Preschool children with cough up to 28 days and without asthma were recruited. The same sociodemographic, clinical history, examination, and complications data as for the derivation study were collected. First, univariable logistic regression was used to explore the associations with complications, and then predictors with stronger relationships (P<0.2) were modelled using multivariable logistic regression. These predictors were compared with derivation predictors with respect to their strength of association with complications. The derivation predictors were used in the validation dataset to allow comparison of the post-test probabilities of complications between derivation and validation studies. RESULTS: The presence of fever and chest signs in the validation study tended to be protective for complications, with univariable odds ratios (ORs) of 0.37 and 0.81 respectively, compared with ORs of 4.86 and 2.72 in the derivation study. However, 95% confidence limits were wide and evidence for two other possible reasons for these results were found: spectrum bias and confounding by indication. CONCLUSION: No evidence was found to validate the clinical rule for predicting complications of acute cough, possibly as a result of spectrum bias, confounding by indication, and/or chance. As paediatric infectious illness is costly and associated with high rates of antibiotic use, further research is needed to derive and validate prediction rules.     

Non-visible versus visible haematuria and bladder cancer risk: a study of electronic records in primary care

Background

Diagnosis of bladder cancer relies on investigation of symptoms presented to primary care, notably visible haematuria. The importance of non-visible haematuria has never been estimated.

Aim

To estimate the risk of bladder cancer with non-visible haematuria.

Design and setting

A case–control study using UK electronic primary care medical records, including uncoded data to supplement coded records.

Method

A total of 4915 patients (aged ≥40 years) diagnosed with bladder cancer between January 2000 and December 2009 were selected from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink and matched to 21 718 controls for age, sex, and practice. Variables for visible and non-visible haematuria were derived from coded and uncoded data. Analyses used multivariable conditional logistic regression, followed by estimation of positive predictive values (PPVs) for bladder cancer using Bayes’ theorem.

Results

Non-visible haematuria (coded/uncoded data) was independently associated with bladder cancer: odds ratio (OR) 20 (95% confidence interval [CI] =12 to 33). The PPV of non-visible haematuria was 1.6% (95% CI = 1.2 to 2.1) in those aged ≥60 years and 0.8% (95% CI = 0.1 to 5.6) in 40–59-year-olds. The PPV of visible haematuria was 2.8% (95% CI = 2.5 to 3.1) and 1.2% (95% CI = 0.6 to 2.3) for the same age groups respectively, lower than those calculated using coded data alone. The proportion of records of visible haematuria in coded, rather than uncoded, format was higher in cases than in controls (P<0.002, χ² test). There was no evidence for such differential recording of non-visible haematuria by case/control status (P = 0.78), although, overall, the uncoded format was preferred (P<0.001).

Conclusion

Both non-visible and visible haematuria are associated with bladder cancer, although the visible form confers nearly twice the risk of cancer compared with the non-visible form. GPs’ style of record keeping varies by symptom and possible diagnosis.