Severity of migraine-like symptoms and its impact on executive functions in university students: a mediation model analysis
The influence of severity of migraine-like symptoms on different levels of executive functions is not well established. In this study, we investigate the impact of severity of migraine-like symptoms on the relationship between core-level executive functions (attention and memory) and fluid intelligence.
The effectiveness of educational, behavioural, and cognitive self-management support interventions for chronic migraine: a systematic review
In this systematic review, we identify and critically appraise randomised controlled trials of effectiveness of available educational, behavioural, cognitive, and self-management support interventions for individuals with chronic migraine.
Improving oral health service delivery: the patient perspective
Rehabilitation with removable complete dentures (RCDs) involves navigating public dental systems that often present barriers like long wait times and limited access. While clinical outcomes are often known, patient experiences with service delivery remain underexplored. Understanding these experiences is key to improving denture care in public settings.
Evaluation of a person-centred, group-based, culturally appropriate diabetes education model for migrants with type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study
Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent chronic illness worldwide and largely impacts migrants who have settled in developed countries. In diabetes care, patients play a central role and are natural partners in self-care education for improving health. Upon reviewing the literature, no studies were found that evaluated culturally adapted education models led by a nurse and delivered by a multi-professional team from the perspective of migrants in a group setting. Therefore, this study aims to explore patients' evaluation of the content and implementation of a person-centred, group-based diabetes education model for migrants with type 2 diabetes led by a nurse and delivered by a multi-professional team.
Patient education as a foundation for effective COPD care
Entering a liminal state when becoming a social prescribing link worker and how it affects retention: findings from a UK qualitative study
To explore factors shaping social prescribing (SP) link workers (LWs) experiences of their job, and how they influence decisions about whether or not to leave it.
Factors contributing to uncontrolled hypertension in Ekurhuleni District, South Africa: the community health workers' perspectives. A qualitative analysis
In South Africa, community health workers (CHWs) provide home-based care and health promotion for patients with chronic conditions like hypertension. However, their views on patients' poor blood pressure control remain unclear. Understanding CHWs' perspectives could inform future community-level strategies for improving blood pressure management.
Optimizing people's movement across the health system: a scoping review of referral systems within a primary health care approach
Functional referral systems are critical to primary health care and universal health coverage. Referral and counter-referral are key relational mechanisms to link communities to the care they need and primary care to secondary and multi-sectoral services. Many referral systems are fragmented, leading to inefficiencies, coverage gaps, and compromised continuity and quality of care. In June 2024, we conducted a scoping review of PubMed, Global Index Medicus and WHO publication databases to identify referral coordination and process initiatives at national, subnational, and local levels.We classified reports from 181 papers into non-exclusive categories based on referral system design, operational elements, service delivery platform, and/or user group. Initiatives targeting referral system design included modelling, organization and assessment methodologies. Initiatives focusing on operational elements included networks and linkages, pathways and algorithms, e-referral systems and platforms, digital processes and tools, and facility-level processes and tools.When classified by service delivery platform, community-level initiatives emphasized improved recognition, screening, diagnosis, and communication by community health workers and use of SMS text messaging or mHealth apps. At initiating facilities, reports focused on standardizing referral criteria and protocols and optimizing communication with referral facilities, including for real-time clinical decision-making to improve timely referral and to reduce under- and over-referral. Structured algorithms and pathways were key to minimize the time between referral, diagnosis, and treatment for time-sensitive conditions. At receiving facilities, actions included supporting initiating facility clinical decision-making prior to referral, prioritizing urgent cases, and consistent counter-referral and/or onward referral.Findings are informing WHO guidance on two-way referral systems.
Discrepancies in the register of primary health care visits: a 6-year time series study from Finland
Information on registered primary healthcare diagnoses from the Register of Primary Health Care Visits (RPV) is used to allocate healthcare funding in Finland. Our aim was to analyse the diagnosis rate trajectories in the RPV and, through that, assess the equitable development of funding. We extracted national- and regional-level diagnosis numbers from the RPV. Joinpoint regression analysis with Model 1 (overall trend) and Model 2 (potential changes in trend) was used to assess diagnosis rate trajectories from 2018 to 2024. Model 1 demonstrated that the number of registered primary healthcare diagnoses has increased between 2018 and 2024, but the growth has not been uniform across all trajectories. Model 2 showed significant differences in the diagnosis rate trajectories between regions and diagnostic groups. There were significant discrepancies in the registration of primary care diagnoses. Reducing these discrepancies by standardizing diagnosis registration practices is necessary to ensure equitable healthcare funding.
A scoping review of guidelines and resources to promote evidence based prescribing for older people with sensory impairment
This review explored whether and how prescribers modify their prescribing behaviour for older people (≥65) with hearing, visual or dual impairment (hereafter referred to as sensory impairment) in primary care settings and identified what evidence sources exist to inform prescribing for these specific patient populations.
Cannabis use experience of patients with chronic disease after revisions to the cannabis legalization regulations: a mixed-methods study in primary care settings in the south of Thailand
To understand patterns of cannabis use and self-management experiences in patients with chronic disease during the post-legalization period in Thailand and to quantify such experiences and perceptions.
Assessing inhabitants' satisfaction and service needs: a cross-sectional survey of primary care service in Jiangsu Province, China
Primary care serves as the foundation of a well-functioning healthcare system and is critical for ensuring equitable access, early disease management, and cost-effective service delivery. In China, reforming primary-level healthcare institutions has become a national priority to achieve universal health coverage. Understanding the service users' perspectives is essential to align primary care services with population health needs and improving trust in grassroots healthcare providers.
PURE PRIME: Implementing pulmonary rehabilitation in primary care: a protocol for a randomized controlled feasibility trial - CORRIGENDUM
Investigating factors influencing recruitment and retention of adult community nurses: an exploratory qualitative study across NHS trusts in England
To investigate factors influencing the recruitment and retention of adult community nurses.
Home self-management experience of gynaecological tumour patients with lower limb lymphoedema: a qualitative study
This study aimed to investigate self-management experiences at home among gynaecological cancer patients with lower limb lymphoedema.
Improving frequency and content of referral correspondence between general practitioners and psychiatrists: a cross-sectional descriptive study
Written referrals and follow-up correspondence between referring general practitioners (GPs) and psychiatrists is a medico-legal responsibility and integral part of caring for patients with mental illness. Objective: To describe expectations and practices that GPs and psychiatrists have when exchanging correspondence concerning patients with mental health problems.
Factors that influence the use of direct access to allied health professionals in the Netherlands
Healthcare systems worldwide are under pressure due to increasing demand and rising costs. Simultaneously, there is a shortage of healthcare workers. This is leading to increased pressure on primary care, especially in countries where general practitioners (GPs) perform a gatekeeping function. One way to alleviate this pressure on GPs, and to reduce healthcare costs, is to introduce or expand, direct accessibility to allied health professionals. This study investigated the factors associated with this direct accessibility in the Netherlands.
The effect of ferrous oral iron used in the treatment of iron deficiency on weight gain and appetite in adults: a prospective study
This study aimed to assess the impact of oral Fe iron preparations on weight, body composition, metabolic, and appetite parameters in adults undergoing treatment for iron deficiency.
Integrating nursing activities into general practices in Switzerland: a mixed-methods study
The aim of this study is to describe the rollout of nursing activities during the pilot project's first 12 months (2019-2021), especially relating to what was initially planned in the nurses' job description.
A study protocol for interprofessional collaborative, digital, and sustainability training in primary healthcare: the REALISE study
Primary healthcare units (PHCUs) in Austria play a crucial role in providing regionally tailored, high-quality care through interprofessional teams. Barriers, such as limited training and unclear roles, hinder effective interprofessional collaboration (IPC). Additionally, healthcare and social professionals (HCSPs) in primary healthcare (PHC) face a rise in patients with non-communicable diseases and increasing climate-related challenges, underscoring the need for education addressing IPC and sustainability to build resilient healthcare.
Measuring the strength of primary care: development of a new system of Structural Indicators for the Strength of Primary Care - SiSPC
The aim of this study was to develop an up-to-date system of Structural Indicators for the Strength of Primary Care (SiSPC) to enable comparisons of primary care systems across countries.
