Introducing genetic testing for cardiovascular disease in primary care: a qualitative study

Background

While primary care systematically offers conventional cardiovascular risk assessment, genetic tests for coronary heart disease (CHD) are increasingly commercially available to patients. It is unclear how individuals may respond to these new sources of risk information.

Aim

To explore how patients who have had a recent conventional cardiovascular risk assessment, perceive additional information from genetic testing for CHD.

Design and setting

Qualitative interview study in 12 practices in Nottinghamshire from both urban and rural settings.

Method

Interviews were conducted with 29 adults, who consented to genetic testing after having had a conventional cardiovascular risk assessment.

Results

Individuals’ principal motivation for genetic testing was their family history of CHD and a desire to convey the results to their children. After testing, however, there was limited recall of genetic test results and scepticism about the value of informing their children. Participants dealt with conflicting findings from the genetic test, family history, and conventional assessment by either focusing on genetic risk or environmental lifestyle factors. In some participants, genetic test results appeared to reinforce healthy behaviour but others were falsely reassured, despite having an ‘above-average’ conventional cardiovascular risk score.

Conclusion

Although genetic testing was acceptable, participants were unclear how to interpret genetic risk results. To facilitate healthy behaviour, health professionals should explore patients’ understanding of genetic test results in light of their family history and conventional risk assessment.     

The UK pay-for-performance programme in primary care: estimation of population mortality reduction

Background

General practices in the UK contract with the government to receive additional payments for high-quality primary care. Little is known about the resulting impact on population health.

Aim

To estimate the potential reduction in population mortality from implementation of the pay-for-performance contract in England.

Design of study

Cross-sectional and modelling study.

Setting

Primary care in England.

Method

Twenty-five clinical quality indicators in the contract had controlled trial evidence of mortality benefit. This was combined with condition prevalence, and the differences in performance before and after contract implementation, to estimate the potential mortality reduction per indicator. Improvement was adjusted for pre-existing trends where data were available.

Results

The 2004 contract potentially reduced mortality by 11 lives per 100 000 people (lower–upper estimates 7–16) over 1 year, as performance improved from baseline to the target for full incentive payment. If all eligible patients were treated, over and above the target, 56 (29–81) lives per 100 000 might have been saved. For the 2006 contract, mortality reduction was effectively zero, because new baseline performance for a typical practice had already exceeded the target performance for full payment.

Conclusion

The contract may have delivered substantial health gain, but potential health gain was limited by performance targets for full payment being set lower than typical baseline performance. Information on both baseline performance and population health gain should inform decisions about future selection of indicators for pay-for-performance schemes, and the level of performance at which full payment is triggered.     

Views of cancer care reviews in primary care: a qualitative study

Background

The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) provides an incentive for practices to establish a cancer register and conduct a review with cancer patients within 6 months of diagnosis, but implementation is unknown.

Aim

To describe: (1) implementation of the QOF cancer care review; (2) patients'' experiences of primary care over the first 3 years following a cancer diagnosis; (3) patients'' views on optimal care; and (4) the views of primary care professionals regarding their cancer care.

Design of study

Qualitative study using thematic analysis and a framework approach.

Setting

Six general practices in the Thames Valley area.

Method

Semi-structured interviews with cancer patients and focus groups with primary care teams.

Results

Thirty-eight adults with 12 different cancer types were interviewed. Seventy-one primary care team members took part in focus groups. Most cancer care reviews are conducted opportunistically. Thirty-five patients had had a review; only two could recall this. Patients saw acknowledgement of their diagnosis and provision of general support as important and not always adequately provided. An active approach and specific review appointment would legitimise the raising of concerns. Primary care teams considered cancer care to be part of their role. GPs emphasised the importance of being able to respond to individual patients'' needs and closer links with secondary care to facilitate a more involved role.

Conclusion

Patients and primary care teams believe primary care has an important role to play in cancer care. Cancer care reviews in their current format are not helpful, with considerable scope for improving practice in this area. An invitation to attend a specific appointment at the end of active treatment may aid transition from secondary care and improve satisfaction with follow-up in primary care.     

Recognising Kawasaki disease in UK primary care: a descriptive study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink

Background

Kawasaki disease is a rare childhood illness that can present non-specifically, making it a diagnostic challenge. The clinical presentation of Kawasaki disease has not been previously described in primary care.

Aim

To describe how children with an eventual diagnosis of Kawasaki disease initially present to primary care in the UK.

Design and setting

The Clinical Practice Research Datalink was used to find cases coded as Kawasaki disease. Hospital Episode Statistics, hospital admissions, and hospital outpatient attendances were used to identify the children with a convincing diagnosis of Kawasaki disease.

Method

Questionnaires and a request for copies of relevant hospital summaries, discharge letters, and reports were sent to GPs of the 104 children with a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease between 2007 and 2011.

Results

Most children presented with few clinical features typical of Kawasaki disease. Of those with just one feature, a fever or a polymorphous rash were the most common. By the time that most children were admitted to hospital they had a more recognisable syndrome, with three or more clinical features diagnostic of Kawasaki disease. Most GPs did not consider Kawasaki disease among their differential diagnoses, but some GPs did suspect that the child’s illness was unusual.

Conclusion

The study highlighted the difficulty of early diagnosis, with most children having a non-specific presentation to primary care. GPs are encouraged to implement good safety netting, and to keep Kawasaki disease in mind when children present with fever and rashes.     

Graduate mental health worker case management of depression in UK primary care: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Based on data from large multicentre US trials, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is advocating a stepped-care model for the management of depression, with 'case management' or 'collaborative care' for selected patients in primary care. AIM: To conduct a pilot study examining the use of graduate mental health workers case managing depressed primary care NHS patients. DESIGN OF STUDY: A randomised controlled trial comparing usual GP care with or without case management over 16 weeks of acute antidepressant drug treatment. SETTING: Three primary care practices in the North East of England. METHOD: Patients with depression, aged 18-65 years, who had failed to adequately respond to antidepressant treatment, were randomised to the two treatments. Assessments were made at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks using a combination of observer and self ratings. RESULTS: Randomisation of 62 patients required screening of 1073 potential patients. There was little difference in outcome between the two treatment arms but a gradual improvement in symptoms over time was seen. Client satisfaction was assessed as high across both treatments. CONCLUSION: While this pilot study confirmed the integrity of the study protocol and the suitability of the outcome measures and randomisation procedure, it raises questions regarding the practicality of recruitment and feasibility of the intervention. It would be crucial to address these issues prior to the implementation of a large multi-centre randomised controlled trial.     

Implementing the role of the primary care mental health worker: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Primary care mental health workers are a new role recently introduced into primary care in England to help manage patients with common mental health problems. AIM: To explore the views of GPs, primary care teams and patients on the value and development of the new role of primary care mental health workers in practice. DESIGN OF STUDY: Qualitative study. SETTING: The Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Teaching Trust in the West Midlands, UK. METHOD: Thirty-seven semi-structured interviews involving seven primary care mental health workers, 21 patients and 11 focus groups involving 38 members of primary care teams were held with six teams with a worker. Two teams asked for the worker to be removed. Six practice managers also took part in the study. RESULTS: A number of different approaches were used to implement this new role. Strategies that incorporated the views of primary care trust senior management, primary care teams and workers' views appeared most successful. Rapid access to a healthcare professional at times of stress and the befriending role of the worker were also highly valued. Workers felt that their role left them professionally isolated at times. A number of workers described tension around ownership of the role. CONCLUSION: Primary care mental health workers appear to provide a range of skills valued by patients and the primary care teams and can increase patient access and choice in this area of health care. Successful implementation strategies highlighted in this study may be generalisable to other new roles in primary care.     

Advance care planning for cancer patients in primary care: a feasibility study

Background

Advance care planning is being promoted as a central component of end-of-life policies in many developed countries, but there is concern that professionals find its implementation challenging.

Aim

To assess the feasibility of implementing advance care planning in UK primary care.

Design of study

Mixed methods evaluation of a pilot educational intervention.

Setting

Four general practices in south-east Scotland.

Method

Interviews with 20 GPs and eight community nurses before and after a practice-based workshop; this was followed by telephone interviews with nine other GPs with a special interest in palliative care from across the UK.

Results

End-of-life care planning for patients typically starts as an urgent response to clear evidence of a short prognosis, and aims to achieve a ‘good death’. Findings suggest that there were multiple barriers to earlier planning: prognostic uncertainty; limited collaboration with secondary care; a desire to maintain hope; and resistance to any kind of ‘tick-box’ approach. Following the workshop, participants'' knowledge and skills were enhanced but there was little evidence of more proactive planning. GPs from other parts of the UK described confusion over terminology and were concerned about the difficulties of implementing inflexible, policy-driven care.

Conclusion

A clear divide was found between UK policy directives and delivery of end-of-life care in the community that educational interventions targeting primary care professionals are unlikely to address. Advance care planning has the potential to promote autonomy and shared decision making about end-of-life care, but this will require a significant shift in attitudes.     

Defining knee pain trajectories in early symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in primary care: 5-year results from a nationwide prospective cohort study (CHECK)

Background

GPs have high consultation rates for symptoms related to knee osteoarthritis (OA). Many risk factors for symptomatic knee OA progression remain unknown.

Aim

To define distinct knee pain trajectories in individuals with early symptomatic knee OA and determine the risk factors for these pain trajectories.

Design and setting

Data were obtained from the multicentre prospective Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee study in the Netherlands. Participants with knee OA, according to the clinical criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, and a completed 5-year follow-up were included.

Method

Baseline demographic, anamnestic, and physical examination characteristics were assessed. Outcome was annually assessed by the Numeric Rating Scale for pain. Pain trajectories were retrieved by latent class growth analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was used to calculate relative risk ratios.

Results

In total, 705 participants were included. Six distinct pain trajectories were identified with favourable and unfavourable courses. Statistically significant differences were found in baseline characteristics, including body mass index (BMI), symptom severity, and pain coping strategies between the different trajectories. Higher BMI, lower level of education, greater comorbidity, higher activity limitation scores, and joint space tenderness were more often associated with trajectories characterised by more pain at first presentation and pain progression — compared with the reference group with a mild pain trajectory. No association was found for baseline radiographic features.

Conclusion

These results can help differentiate those patients who require more specific monitoring in the management of early symptomatic knee OA from those for whom a ‘wait-and-see’ policy seems justifiable. Radiography provided no additional benefit over clinical diagnosis of early symptomatic knee OA in general practice.     

Child deaths: confidential enquiry into the role and quality of UK primary care

Background

In 2006 the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Perinatal Deaths was extended to pilot a collection of child deaths. This helped optimise data collection for local safeguarding children''s boards, which, since April 2008, have a statutory responsibility to review all child deaths. Reviewing primary care records may highlight areas in which systems, skills, and care could be improved.

Aim

To review the role and quality of primary care in child deaths.

Design of study

Confidential enquiry into child deaths.

Setting

Five regions of the UK: North-East, South-West and West Midlands, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Method

The confidential enquiry collected core data for all child deaths (age range 28 days to 17 years) and an age-stratified sample was assessed by multidisciplinary panels for avoidable factors. An independent detailed review was conducted of the primary care records on all children in the North-East region and all children who were reviewed by panel in the other four regions.

Results

Primary care records were reviewed for 168 child deaths. There were 25 (15%) deaths from acute infection, 22 (13%) from cancer, and 11 (7%) from asthma or epilepsy. Fifty-nine (35%) deaths were sudden: sudden unexplained death in infancy, suicides, and assaults. Of 149 with immunisation records, only 88 (59%) had been fully vaccinated on time. One or more primary care professionals were involved in the management of 90 (54%) children. Avoidable primary care factors were identified in 18 (20%) of these deaths. Avoidable primary care factors included failure in the recognition and management of serious infection, failure to vaccinate, and inadequate management of asthma and epilepsy.

Conclusion

Decisions made about diagnosis and management in primary care may affect the cause, time, and circumstances of a child''s death. Maintaining skills in assessing the acutely ill child remains an essential part of good clinical practice.     

Clinical features of kidney cancer in primary care: a case-control study using primary care records

Background

Kidney cancer accounts for over 4000 UK deaths annually, and is one of the cancer sites with a poor mortality record compared with Europe.

Aim

To identify and quantify all clinical features of kidney cancer in primary care.

Design

Case-control study, using General Practice Research Database records.

Method

A total of 3149 patients aged ≥40 years, diagnosed with kidney cancer between 2000 and 2009, and 14 091 age, sex and practice-matched controls, were selected. Clinical features associated with kidney cancer were identified, and analysed using conditional logistic regression. Positive predictive values for features of kidney cancer were estimated.

Results

Cases consulted more frequently than controls in the year before diagnosis: median 16 consultations (interquartile range 10–25) versus 8 (4–15): P<0.001. Fifteen features were independently associated with kidney cancer: visible haematuria, odds ratio 37 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 28 to 49), abdominal pain 2.8 (95% CI = 2.4 to 3.4), microcytosis 2.6 (95% CI = 1.9 to 3.4), raised inflammatory markers 2.4 (95% CI = 2.1 to 2.8), thrombocytosis 2.2 (95% CI = 1.7 to 2.7), low haemoglobin 1.9 (95% CI = 1.6 to 2.2), urinary tract infection 1.8 (95% CI = 1.5 to 2.1), nausea 1.8 (95% CI = 1.4 to 2.3), raised creatinine 1.7 (95% CI = 1.5 to 2.0), leukocytosis 1.5 (95% CI = 1.2 to 1.9), fatigue 1.5 (95% CI = 1.2 to 1.9), constipation 1.4 (95% CI = 1.1 to 1.7), back pain 1.4 (95% CI = 1.2 to 1.7), abnormal liver function 1.3 (95% CI = 1.2 to 1.5), and raised blood sugar 1.2 (95% CI = 1.1 to 1.4). The positive predictive value for visible haematuria in patients aged ≥60 years was 1.0% (95% CI = 0.8 to 1.3).

Conclusion

Visible haematuria is the commonest and most powerful single predictor of kidney cancer, and the risk rises when additional symptoms are present. When considered alongside the risk of bladder cancer, the overall risk of urinary tract cancer from haematuria warrants referral.     

Antenatal needs of couples following fertility treatment: a qualitative study in primary care

Background

It is known that couples may experience emotional distress while undergoing infertility treatment, but less is known about their experience of pregnancy following successful conception. Typically, couples are discharged from the fertility clinic to receive standard antenatal care. Recent research has raised questions about whether this care adequately meets their needs.

Aim

To explore the antenatal experiences of females and males who have successfully conceived through infertility treatment.

Design and setting

An exploratory qualitative approach was undertaken, using individual, in-depth interviews with females and males who had successfully undergone infertility treatment in one of three fertility clinics in the south of England.

Method

Twenty participants were interviewed (12 females and eight male partners) when their pregnancy had reached 28 weeks’ gestation. Participants were asked about their experiences of infertility treatment, pregnancy, and antenatal care. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically.

Results

Analysis of the interviews suggested females and males experienced a ‘gap’ in their care, in terms of time and intensity, when discharged from the fertility clinic to standard antenatal care. This gap, combined with their previous experience of infertility treatment, heightened their fear of pregnancy loss and increased their need for support from their health professionals. Participants’ previous experience of infertility treatment also appeared to deter them from preparing for the birth and parenthood, and disclosing negative feelings to others about the pregnancy.

Conclusion

Females and males who have successfully undergone infertility treatment may require additional support in primary care to address anxiety during pregnancy, enable disclosure of negative feelings, and to help them prepare for childbirth and parenthood.     

Acceptability of screening for early detection of liver disease in hazardous/harmful drinkers in primary care

Background

It is estimated that one-quarter of adults in the UK drink at harmful/hazardous levels leading to increased mortality and alcohol liver disease (ALD). The Alcohol Liver Disease Detection Study (ALDDeS) aimed to test out in primary care the feasibility of alcohol misuse screening in adults, using the AUDIT questionnaire, and to assess screening harmful/hazardous alcohol users for ALD using newer non-invasive serum markers of fibrosis.

Aim

To explore patients’ experiences of taking part in ALDDeS and understanding of the delivery and process of screening for ALD using self-report questionnaires and feedback of liver fibrosis risk using levels of non-invasive serum markers.

Design and setting

A nested qualitative study based in five primary care practices in the UK.

Method

From a sample of patients who were identified as drinking at harmful/hazardous levels, 30 participants were identified by maximum variation sampling for qualitative in-depth interviews. Using the principles of constant comparison the transcribed interviews were thematically analysed.

Results

Receiving a postal AUDIT questionnaire was viewed as acceptable by participants. For some completing the AUDIT increased awareness of their hazardous alcohol use and a positive blood test indicating liver fibrosis was a catalyst for behaviour change. For others, a negative blood test result provided a licence to continue drinking at hazardous levels. A limited understanding of safe drinking and of ALD was common.

Conclusion

Educational and training needs of primary care professionals must be taken into account, so that patients with marker levels indicating low risk of fibrosis are correctly informed about the likely risks of continuing to drink at the same levels.     

Risk of stroke and oral anticoagulant use in atrial fibrillation: a cross-sectional survey

Background

Oral anticoagulants substantially reduce the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation but are underutilised in current practice.

Aim

To measure the distribution of stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (using the CHADS² and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores) and changes in oral anticoagulant use during 2007–2010.

Design and setting

Longitudinal series of cross-sectional survey in 583 UK practices linked to the QResearch® database providing 99 351 anonymised electronic records from people with atrial fibrillation.

Method

The proportion of patients in each CHADS₂ and CHA₂DS₂-VASc risk band in 2010 was calculated; for each of the years 2007–2010, the proportions with risk scores ≥2 that were using anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents were estimated. The proportions identified at high risk were re-estimated using alternative definitions of hypertension based on coded data. Finally, the prevalence of comorbid conditions in treated and untreated high-risk (CHADS₂ ≥2) groups was derived.

Results

The proportion at high risk of stroke in 2010 was 56.9% according to the CHADS₂ ≥2 threshold, and 84.5% according to CHA₂DS₂-VASc ≥2 threshold. The proportions of these groups receiving anticoagulants were 53.0% and 50.7% respectively and increased during 2007–2010. The means of identifying the population of individuals with hypertension significantly influenced the estimated proportion at high risk. Comorbid conditions associated with avoidance of anticoagulants included history of falls, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and dementia.

Conclusion

Oral anticoagulant use in atrial fibrillation has increased in UK practice since 2007, but remains suboptimal. Improved coding of hypertension is required to support systematic identification of individuals at high risk of stroke and could be assisted by practice-based software.     

Evaluating pancreatitis in primary care: a population-based cohort study

Background

Pancreatitis is an important condition with significant mortality. Primary care may have an important role to play in its prevention, early diagnosis, and ongoing management.

Aim

To evaluate incidence, case fatality, and clinical features of acute and chronic pancreatitis in a large population.

Design and setting

Population-based cohort study using a primary care database in the UK from 1990 to 2013.

Method

Use of general practice records from 16 491 patients diagnosed with pancreatitis. Age-standardised incidence rates and case fatality were estimated. Clinical features, aetiology, and patterns of recurrence were evaluated.

Results

Incidence of pancreatitis increased from 14.8 in 100 000 (1990–1994) to 31.2 in 100 000 (2010–2013) in males, and from 14.5 to 28.3 in 100 000 in females (2010–2013). Overall case fatality after diagnosis was 4.3% (95% CI = 4.0% to 4.6%) at 90 days and 7.9% (95% CI = 7.5% to 8.4%) at 365 days. In 1990–1994, 10% of patients with acute pancreatitis were recorded as heavy drinkers, increasing to 12% in 2010–2012; for patients with chronic pancreatitis the proportions were 13%, rising to 21%. Among patients who died in the 90 days after diagnosis, 92% consulted with their general practice in the 2 months before first diagnosis.

Conclusion

The incidence of pancreatitis is increasing over time. Alcohol abuse may now account for at least one in eight cases of acute, and one in five cases of chronic pancreatitis. Consultations among those who subsequently died may have offered potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention.