scholarly journals How often should general practitioners provide nutrition care to patients? A forecasting activity to determine the target frequency for chronic-disease management in Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Ball ◽  
Patricia Lee ◽  
Gina L Ambrosini ◽  
Kyra Hamilton ◽  
Haitham Tuffaha
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Chronic Disease Management ◽  
Support Staff ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Nutrition Care ◽  
Dietary Behaviours ◽  
Disease Outcomes ◽  
Primary Health

Supporting patients to have healthy dietary behaviours contributes significantly to preventing and managing lifestyle-related chronic diseases. ‘Nutrition care’ refers to any practice provided by a health professional to support a patient to improve their dietary behaviours and subsequent health outcomes. Approximately 3% of consultations by Australian general practitioners (GPs) involve the provision of nutrition care. The aim of the present paper was to forecast the potential implications of a higher frequency of nutrition care by GPs. Evidence on the effect of improved dietary behaviours on chronic disease outcomes, number of Australian adults estimated to have poor dietary behaviours and effectiveness of GPs providing nutrition care were taken into consideration. Using hypertension as a case example, for GPs to provide nutrition care to all hypertensive adults who would benefit from improved dietary behaviours, GPs would need to provide nutrition care in a target rate of 4.85% of consultations or 4.5 million different patients each year. The target aligns with the existing priorities for supporting chronic-disease prevention and management in Australia by increasing the rate that brief lifestyle interventions are provided by primary health professionals. This conservative target presents a considerable challenge for GPs, support staff, researchers and policy makers, but can be used to inform future interventions to support nutrition care by GPs.

scholarly journals An exploration of individuals’ preferences for nutrition care from Australian primary care health professionals

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Ball ◽  
Ben Desbrow ◽  
Michael Leveritt
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Health Professional ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Australian Health ◽  
Nutrition Care ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Preferred Providers ◽  
Primary Care Health ◽  
Care Health

This qualitative study explored individuals’ preferences regarding the provision of nutrition care from Australian health professionals and the factors influencing their preferences. Thirty-eight individuals aged 53 ± 8 years, living with a lifestyle-related chronic disease or risk factor for lifestyle-related chronic disease, participated in a semi-structured telephone interview. Participants were asked questions regarding their perceptions of which Australian health professionals provide nutrition care, their preferences for this care and the factors influencing their preferences. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using a constant-comparison approach. General practitioners were the most recognised health professional that provided nutrition care to patients, followed by dietitians. General practitioners were regarded by most participants as the preferred provider of nutrition care because they were perceived to provide trustworthy and personalised nutrition care. Participants reported confusion regarding the professional differences between dietitians and nutritionists, and appealed for more information to be available to individuals that are considering consulting an Australian health professional for nutrition care. The findings of this study suggest that general practitioners are the preferred providers of nutrition care for many individuals living with a lifestyle-related chronic disease. Considering the increasing presentation of patients with lifestyle-related chronic disease in general practice, it is anticipated that the demand on general practitioners to provide nutrition care to patients will increase in the future.

scholarly journals Skills building seminar: How to enhance collaboration between primary care and public health?

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Disease Management ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Communicable Disease Control ◽  
Organizational Models ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Public Health Functions ◽  
Successful Collaboration

Abstract Many countries in Europe and beyond have recognized that improved collaboration between public health and primary care can yield substantial benefits to populations and patients (e.g. through improved chronic disease management, communicable disease control, and maternal and child health), but it is in practice unclear how this improved collaboration can be achieved. Furthermore, collaboration is often hampered by the way that both sectors are organized and financed, with substantial differences across and sometimes within countries. In most European countries primary care already performs some public health functions, while public health can help to make the provision of primary care more effective. Screening and immunization, for example, as well as interventions to support healthy lifestyles, are public health functions that are nowadays commonly provided in primary care, although with wide variations between countries in the number of preventive care services provided in primary care. The question is how to expand and further develop existing collaborations. This workshop investigates the types of initiatives that have been undertaken, the factors that can enhance or hinder the collaboration between primary care and public health, and what can be undertaken to increase the chances of successful collaboration. It identifies organizational models of primary care that are conducive to collaboration with public health (e.g. through integrating primary care and public health in the provision of care for individuals), as well as systemic, organizational and interpersonal factors that can hinder or facilitate collaboration. The workshop draws on the findings of a forthcoming Observatory policy brief on enhanced primary care and public health collaboration, covering such areas as community engagement and participation, health promotion, health education, prevention activities, chronic disease management, screening, immunization and communicable disease control, information systems activities, development of best practice guidelines, conducting needs assessments, quality assurance and evaluation, and professional education. The workshop will begin with a presentation of the main findings of the policy brief, followed by a panel discussion involving European experts and policy-makers. In addition to sharing the experience of their countries, panelists will reflect on how generalizable or transferable examples of successful collaboration are and what it takes to overcome existing barriers. The workshop is designed to provide ample opportunity for the audience to comment on and discuss presentations and the contributions of panelists and to consider what lessons can be transferred across countries. It will be of interest to public health researchers, practitioners and policy-makers from across Europe. Key messages The workshop provides a forum for discussing how to enhance collaboration between public health and primary care. It explores innovative approaches, organizational models, and policy options.

scholarly journals Nutrition competence of primary care physicians in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e033443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamah Al-gassimi ◽  
Hassan Bin Usman Shah ◽  
Rawan Sendi ◽  
Heba A Ezmeirlly ◽  
Lauren Ball ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Nutrition Care ◽  
Dietary Behaviours

ObjectivesPrimary care physicians have an opportunity to support healthy dietary behaviours of patients by providing nutrition care. However, it is unclear whether primary care physicians in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are sufficiently competent in nutrition. This study aimed to assess the nutrition competence of primary care physicians in KSA and identify whether nutrition competence is associated with the provision of nutrition care to patients living with diet-related chronic disease.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingChronic disease clinics across 48 primary care centres under the Ministry of Health in the city of Jeddah, KSA.Participants90 primary care physicians completed the survey (response rate: 98%). General practitioners and family medicine residents, specialists, and consultants actively working in chronic disease clinics between February and May 2019 were included.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrimary outcome measure was nutrition competence of primary care physicians measured via the validated nutrition competence (NUTCOMP) questionnaire.ResultsPrimary care physicians perceived themselves as competent in nutrition care but their reported provision of nutrition care was limited. Confidence in their nutrition knowledge and skills elicited the lowest mean scores of 25.8 (±5.4) out of 35 and 29 (±5.2) out of 40, respectively. The reported provision of nutrition care was closely correlated with physicians’ confidence in their nutrition knowledge (r=0.57) and communication (r=0.52). Three factors were identified as predicting whether physicians provide nutrition care to patients: confidence in counselling about nutrition (p<0.001), having previous nutrition education (p=0.005) and a higher professional qualification (p=0.008).ConclusionsPrimary care physicians felt confident in providing nutrition care to patients living with diet-related chronic disease. Primary care physicians would benefit from higher levels of nutrition knowledge and skills to effectively support patients to improve their dietary behaviours and health conditions, leading to a positive impact on public health.

scholarly journals General practitioners’ views on providing nutrition care to patients with chronic disease: a focus group study

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Crowley ◽  
Lauren Ball ◽  
Anne-Thea McGill ◽  
Stephen Buetow ◽  
Bruce Arroll ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Nutrition Care ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
Consultation Time

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Nutrition care refers to practices conducted by health professionals to support patients to improve their dietary intake. General practitioners (GPs) are expected to provide nutrition care to patients for prevention and management of chronic disease. AIM This study explores GPs’ opinions regarding nutrition care provision to patients with chronic disease. METHODS An interpretive descriptive approach to qualitative research using seven semi-structured focus groups with 48 GPs in Auckland was used. Focus groups investigated how GPs felt about providing nutrition care; the perceived barriers to and support required for this care; the development of further nutrition knowledge and skills; and possible roles for Practice Nurses. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic approach. RESULTS GPs indicated routine provision of basic nutrition care to patients with chronic disease, but perceived their limited consultation time and nutrition competence constrained their capacity to provide nutrition care. GPs felt they needed further information to provide culturally, socially and economically sensitive nutrition care. GPs displayed variable opinions on the benefits of developing their nutrition knowledge and skills, and the idea of Practice Nurses providing nutrition care. CONCLUSIONS Despite perceiving that nutrition care is important for patients with chronic disease and facing barriers to providing nutrition care, GPs appear reluctant to further develop their knowledge and skills and for Practice Nurses to provide this care. Strategies to enhance GPs’ nutrition-related self-efficacy, nutrition cultural competence and attitudes towards further training care may be warranted.

scholarly journals The evaluation of knowledge and activities of primary health care professionals in promoting breast-feeding

Medicina ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giedra Levinienė ◽  
Aušra Petrauskienė ◽  
Eglė Tamulevičienė ◽  
Jolanta Kudzytė ◽  
Liutauras Labanauskas
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Breast Feed ◽  
Primary Health Care Centers ◽  
Health Care Centers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and activities of Kaunas primary health care center professionals in promoting breast-feeding. Material and methods. A total of 84 general practitioners and 52 nurses participated in the survey, which was carried out in Kaunas primary health care centers in 2006. Data were gathered from the anonymous questionnaire. Results. Less than half of general practitioners (45.1%) and 65% of nurses were convinced that baby must be exclusively breast-fed until the age of 6 months, but only 21.6% of general practitioners and 27.5% of nurses knew that breast-feeding with complementary feeding should be continued until the age of 2 years and longer. Still 15.7% of general practitioners and 25% of nurses recommended pacifiers; 7.8% of general practitioners advised to breast-feed according to hours. Half of the health professionals recommended additional drinks between meals; onethird of them – to give complementary food for the babies before the age of 6 months. One-third (29.6%) of the health professionals surveyed recommended mothers to feed their babies more frequently in case the amount of breast milk decreased. Conclusions. The survey showed that knowledge of medical personnel in primary health care centers about the advantages of breast-feeding, prophylaxis of hypogalactia, and duration of breast-feeding was still insufficient.

scholarly journals Patient safety challenges in primary health care: a scoping review

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlise Rigon Dalla Nora ◽  
Mariur Gomes Beghetto
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Enhancing Resources

ABSTRACT Objectives: to identify the patient safety challenges described by health professionals in Primary Health Care. Methods: a scoping review was conducted on the LILACS, MEDLINE, IBECS, BDENF, and CINAHL databases, and on the Cochrane, SciELO, Pubmed, and Web of Science libraries in January 2019. Original articles on patient safety in the context of Primary Health Care by health professionals were included. Results: the review included 26 studies published between 2002 and 2019. Four categories resulted from the analysis: challenges of health professionals, administration challenges of health services, challenges with the patient and family, and the potential enhancing resources for patient safety. Conclusions: patient safety challenges for Primary Care professionals are multiple and complex. This study provides insight into resources to improve patient safety for health care professionals, patients, administrators, policy makers, educators, and researchers.

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