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Implementation of guidelines on stroke prevention.

The aim of the present paper was to study the implementation of new medical knowledge. We investigated whether Danish doctors have implemented new national guidelines for oral anticoagulation of atrial fibrillation. An anonymous questionnaire with six standardized case stories was sent to 315 general practitioners in the county of Viborg and Ringkøbing, 79 heads of departments of medicine and cardiology, and 20 heads of departments of neuromedicine across the country. The answers showed that the Danish doctors recommended anticoagulant therapy only to a low extent for this group of patients despite the guidelines and the scientific evidence. The reasons for not choosing anticoagulant therapy were lack of knowledge concerning risk of stroke associated with the disease, worries about the disadvantages of the treatment, and lack of knowledge of its benefits. It is concluded that despite solid scientific documentation and an intensive implementation process of guidelines, issued by well-known respected colleagues in a small homogeneous country as Denmark (5 million inhabitants), knowledge of new research findings varies greatly and is generally limited. To obtain optimal use of new research findings, a powerful implementation effort must be recommended and the study reveals a need for a closer link between research and post-graduate education.

Aged↗

Medical student initiatives to promote the education of generalist physicians.

Medical student organizations--including the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the Association of American Medical Colleges's Organization of Student Representatives (AAMC-OSR), and the American Academy of Family Physicians' National Congress of Student Members (AAFP-NCSM)--are responding to the increased need for generalist physicians. Through a variety of initiatives drawing on each organization's unique strengths and capabilities, students are developing curricular and extracurricular initiatives to increase trainees' exposure to and knowledge about generalist medicine. These projects indicate that future physicians are interested in learning about generalist careers and in working with generalist mentors early in their medical training. Students are addressing these needs through community-based experiences, student interest groups, legislative activity, curricular reform, and research in generalist medicine.

Clinical Clerkship↗

What makes quality assurance effective? Results from a randomized, controlled trial in 16 primary care group practices.

OBJECTIVES: The authors estimate separately contributions of each component intervention to overall effectiveness of quality assurance cycles used to improve practice performance. METHODS: In a randomized, controlled trial, experimental cycles of quality assurance were conducted for eight patient-care guidelines, with two experimental cycles assigned to each of 16 group practices. For three separate interventions per cycle, practitioners: (1) were notified of the name of the experimental guideline, (2) discussed criteria of conformance to the guideline, and (3) received feedback on performance. Actions taken in response to interventions were documented. Using medical records data for a baseline year and for 3 months after each intervention and an additional 9 months, the authors scored each practice for conformance to two experimental guidelines and to control guidelines. RESULTS: For all patient-care guidelines combined, and for four of five guidelines showing improvement, knowledge of guidelines and review criteria alone produced no change. After feedback, performance improved and improvement persisted for at least 9 months. The number of corrective actions implemented contributed significantly to effectiveness of quality assurance. CONCLUSIONS: Feedback to providers of data on their performance is a more powerful stimulus for quality improvement than is knowledge of guidelines or discussion of review criteria.

Ambulatory Care↗

Leadership for quality improvement in group practices.

OBJECTIVES: The authors studied influence of physician leaders on their colleagues' performance using data from a randomized, controlled trial of quality assurance interventions in 16 primary care practices. METHODS: The authors examined whether leaders performed better than their colleagues and looked for evidence of leaders' influence on their colleagues before intervention. As behavioral indicators of each leader's influence for improvement in response to quality assurance interventions, the authors (1) change in the leader's performance score and (2) an index of leader commitment derived from the leader's participation in quality assurance interventions; these indicators were used as covariates in a comparison in experimental practice sites of leaders' and colleagues' mean case performance scores before and after intervention. RESULTS: Leaders did not outscore their colleagues or influence their colleagues' performance scores before intervention. In response to quality assurance interventions, a leader's change in performance score significantly improved colleagues' score if the leader improved. A positive leader commitment index predicted colleagues' improvement independently of the leader change score. CONCLUSIONS: As hypothesized, physician leaders, by the example of their behavior, influenced colleagues' performance. However, leaders exerted their influence only after receiving external stimulation for quality improvement.

Adult↗

Knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and sources of information amongst men.

The objective of this study was to investigate men's awareness of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexual health services, together with the best ways of providing information about them. Information was collated via a self-administered questionnaire, which was answered by 429 men, giving a response rate of 31%. Men aged 16+ living in two primary care trusts (PCTs) in the north-west of England were accessed through a range of different sources, including social, educational, health, work and religious facilities. Despite the high rates of STIs in the north-west, approximately one in five men had not heard of herpes, syphilis or chlamydia. One in ten had not heard of gonorrhoea. The majority of men were unaware that many STIs could be asymptomatic. Only 13% knew where their local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic was. The main deterrents to accessing the clinic were embarrassment and not knowing where it was. Men's knowledge of STIs is limited, particularly in relation to the symptoms. The best way of providing information, according to the respondents, was through their general practitioner (GP). However, in practice this might be difficult, as men are reluctant users of GP services in general. Knowledge of the whereabouts of the local GUM clinics is also limited. Although most men thought that they would visit their GP if they thought they might have an STI, this may result from them not knowing the alternatives, rather than having a real choice. More information, targeted wisely, is thus necessary in order to educate men about STIs and service provision.

Adolescent↗

Bridging the knowledge-action gap in diabetes: information technologies, physician incentives and consumer incentives converge.

The gap between current medical knowledge and its application in chronic disease management is especially apparent in diabetes care. Although research over the last decade has shown that adherence to standards of care can prevent or delay the onset of devastating diabetic complications, little more than one-third of patients achieve adequate glycaemic control. Obstacles to better care include 'system' factors such as inadequate record-keeping and reimbursement policies that reimburse amply for illness but poorly for diabetes education and interventions via telephone and computer. Disparities in healthcare compound the difficulty among vulnerable populations in urban and rural areas. Emerging healthcare delivery systems that encourage payers, providers and consumers to improve diabetes care with the use of information technology and financial incentives are described in different health management settings.

Diabetes Mellitus↗

The effects of family nursing and family medicine clinical rotations on nursing and medical students' self-efficacy for health promotion counseling.

The effects of community-based family nursing and medicine clinical rotations on students' confidence in their knowledge and ability to counsel clients in selected health promotion areas were examined from the perspective of Bandura's (1986) self-efficacy theory. Nursing students (n=66) enrolled in a community family nursing course and medical students (n=71) enrolled in a 6-week family practice clerkship rotation completed questionnaires at three points: prior to, at completion of, and 3 months following their clinical rotations. Nursing and medical students' self-efficacy levels at pretest were similar. At-posttest, nursing students' self-efficacy was significantly higher than that of the medical students. This difference was sustained at 3 months follow up. Students' conception of health (clinical vs. nonclinical) did not have an effect on posttest self-efficacy levels. Self-efficacy scores accounted for 63% of the variance in the nursing students' self-reported use of health promotion principles in their daily practice; but only 11% of the variance in medical students' daily practice. The results of this exploratory study provide information to guide theory-informed curricular decisions to design clinical learning activities that foster the development of health promotion counseling skills in both nursing and medical students.

Analysis of Variance↗

Management competencies for medical practice executives: skills, knowledge and abilities required for the future.

The purpose of this study was to obtain a consensus of opinion from a large and diverse population of experienced ambulatory health care administrators regarding the essential ambulatory health care management competencies, and their related skills, knowledge and abilities (SKA) requirements, that will be required for successful management performance in ambulatory health care delivery settings in the next five years. A literature review suggests limited research in this essential and rapidly developing area for the health care community. The research design and methods employed the Delphi technique. Three hundred and twenty (320) Fellows of the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE) were asked to respond to two rounds of a Delphi mail survey. The results indicate that the essential ambulatory management competencies could be discretely grouped into six Management Domains, each with related SKAs. The respondents rated leadership and strategic management as the most important Management Domains. The highest rated SKA emphasized interpersonal skills with the next highest SKA relating to ethical and moral dimensions. Patient care management, as well as two SKAs relating to computer skills, were rated lowest.

Ambulatory Care↗

Management competencies required in ambulatory care settings.

A study was conducted to identify the most important competencies physician executives in medical groups and other ambulatory settings will need to have in the next five years. The specific job skills, knowledge, and abilities (SKA) that physician executives will need to acquire these competencies were also explored. The Delphi techniques were used to analyze responses from two surveys from members of the American College of Medical Practice Executives. The most important competencies were grouped into 13 management domains, each with specific SKAs. "Managing health care resources to create quality and value" and "fundamentals of business and finance" were rated as the most important competencies. The most frequently rated SKA was the "ability to build and maintain credibility and trust."

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗

[Dialogues on risks and health resources in general practice].

The healing and preventive forces related to individuals' health resources and self-assessed knowledge have hitherto been underestimated in medicine. In this article, we draw attention to ethical and epistemological challenges in relation to values, communication, knowledge, and autonomy that are embedded in the prevailing risk-oriented epidemiology. We have developed a theoretical model for a patient-centered, salutogenetic approach with the aim of a better balance between health resources and risk factors. We briefly present results of dialogues in the general practice consultation based on key questions about self-assessed health resources. We discuss pitfalls related to causality, group-based probabilities, medicalization, and informed consent, focusing on the clinical encounter with the individual patient. By introducing a salutogenetic perspective, we hope to shift attention towards the patient's resources and strengths. Communication can mediate oppression as well as empowerment.

Communication↗

Indigenous male health disadvantage--linking the heart and mind.

BACKGROUND: Aboriginal men experience unacceptably high morbidity and mortality rates for almost all medical conditions. Heart disease and depression in particular are common, inter-linked, and potentially amendable to interventions delivered through primary care. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to raise awareness of mental illness and heart disease in Aboriginal men, to explore the links between these disease groups, and to encourage general practitioners to do all they can to help reduce morbidity and mortality, in particular through active secondary prevention. DISCUSSION: It would be simplistic to think that these problems can be adequately addressed merely through improved general practice services, but improved recognition of illness by GPs, improved accessibility and acceptability of health services, active follow up and management of depression and heart disease, and ongoing engagement with communities is likely to improve the current situation.

Australia↗

Orientation to community in a family practice residency program.

BACKGROUND: Family practice residencies are expected to include opportunities for trainees to learn about population-based approaches to health care delivery. METHODS: To prepare them for community projects later in training, first-year residents were introduced to a community-oriented primary care (COPC) curriculum by an interdisciplinary team with representatives from public health and academic family medicine. During their mid-year orientation month, the residents spent three afternoons in community settings, each year focusing on a different public health issue. The residents spent the first afternoon discussing principles of community medicine, the COPC model, and planning community interviews. The second afternoon, they interviewed in the community. The residents reported and evaluated on the third afternoon. RESULTS: During the 3 years described, most residents participated with enthusiasm, later reporting increased awareness and use of community resources. However, months after the third experience, a comparison of clinic records before and after the orientation showed no difference in the residents' inclusion of the health issue studied in managing their patients, although social workers and other non-physician faculty team members reported that residents consulted them more frequently following the community orientation. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to provide residents with an efficiently designed and attractive community orientation early in training. An interdisciplinary team should plan and coordinate their experiences, but all faculty should role model good community behavior. Although the 1996 residents described behavioral changes following this brief orientation, this was not documented by a chart review.

Adolescent↗