Examining Patient Perspectives on Weight Management Support in the Primary Care Setting

Obesity affects more than one-third of Americans and is a leading cause of preventable death. Integrating patient perspectives into obesity treatment can help primary care providers (PCPs) intervene more effectively. In this study, we describe patients’ experiences with PCPs concerning the diagnosis and treatment of obesity and offer suggestions for patient-centered care in weight management. We conducted four focus groups with patients of a university medical system-associated family practice who had a BMI?≥?30. Interview questions addressed general weight management perceptions and preferences for weight management support in a primary care setting. Patients completed a brief demographic survey at the conclusion of the group. Four authors independently coded focus group notes to identify themes and determine saturation using qualitative thematic analysis. We resolved discrepancies by team discussion. Thirty primary care patients participated, of whom 23 were female and whose average age was 50. Twenty-four had attempted to lose weight in the past 12 months and had discussed management with their providers. Analyses identified four themes regarding weight management in a primary care setting: motivation and weight management, the provider–patient relationship, desire for concrete weight loss plans, and limitations of the primary care setting. Motivation was named as a weight management obstacle. Participants felt that PCPs need to be partners in weight management efforts and also recognized limitations of PCP time and expertise. They endorsed an integrated behavioral approach that includes physical activity and nutrition support. Improving PCP delivery of evidence-based treatment for obesity will lead to increased patient attempts to lose weight. Incorporating patients’ desires for concrete plans, ongoing support, and referral to integrated service (e.g., nutritionists, care managers, behavioral health providers) programs can increase patient engagement and success. The chronic disease care and Patient Centered Medical Home models offer guidance for ensuring sustainability of weight management services.     

The economic burden of occupational non-melanoma skin cancer due to solar radiation

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the second most prevalent carcinogenic exposure in Canada and is similarly important in other countries with large Caucasian populations. The objective of this article was to estimate the economic burden associated with newly diagnosed non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) attributable to occupational solar radiation exposure. Key cost categories considered were direct costs (healthcare costs, out-of-pocket costs (OOPCs), and informal caregiver costs); indirect costs (productivity/output costs and home production costs); and intangible costs (monetary value of the loss of health-related quality of life (HRQoL)). To generate the burden estimates, we used secondary data from multiple sources applied to computational methods developed from an extensive review of the literature. An estimated 2,846 (5.3%) of the 53,696 newly diagnosed cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 1,710 (9.2%) of the 18,549 newly diagnosed cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 2011 in Canada were attributable to occupational solar radiation exposure. The combined total for direct and indirect costs of occupational NMSC cases is $28.9 million ($15.9 million for BCC and $13.0 million for SCC), and for intangible costs is $5.7 million ($0.6 million for BCC and $5.1 million for SCC). On a per-case basis, the total costs are $5,670 for BCC and $10,555 for SCC. The higher per-case cost for SCC is largely a result of a lower survival rate, and hence higher indirect and intangible costs. Our estimates can be used to raise awareness of occupational solar UV exposure as an important causal factor in NMSCs and can highlight the importance of occupational BCC and SCC among other occupational cancers.     

Aggression Management Training in Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Scoping Review

Recent events and media coverage have put aggression and violence toward healthcare workers on the agenda of many governments and healthcare providers. Shown to cause poor job satisfaction, attrition and higher rates of turnover, aggression and violence toward healthcare workers is a substantial problem in the provision of quality care. We aim to determine the feasibility of providing aggression management training to undergraduate nursing students to better prepare them for the workforce. This review found seven studies utilizing various methods of providing aggression management training to students. Delivery was diverse in terms of format, content and duration, and the efficacy of training was typically determined in a pre- and post-test fashion. The findings in reviewed studies indicate significant improvements in competence and attitudes, however some methodological caveats exist. We conclude that aggression management training for undergraduate nursing students is indeed feasible within certain constraints: methodological approaches to demonstrating efficacy need to evolve beyond pre- and post-test designs and changes in content delivery incorporating new and novel methods, such as simulation, need to be considered and incorporated. Aggression management training should be considered as essential in the nursing curriculum in order to provide neophyte nurses with the skills and capabilities to manage aggression and violence in their future workplaces.