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Yuen EYN, Hale M, Wilson C. The role of social support among caregivers of people with cancer from Chinese and Arabic communities: a qualitative study. Support Care Cancer 2024; 32:310. [PMID: 38668869 PMCID: PMC11052886 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08502-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cancer caregivers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities have reported significant unmet emotional support needs. This study aimed explore the role of social support to manage emotional wellbeing among cancer caregivers from Arabic and Chinese communities in Australia. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Chinese (n = 12) and Arabic (n = 12) speaking cancer caregivers. Participants' mean age was 40.6 years; majority were female (83%) and providing care to a parent (41.67%). RESULTS Using thematic analysis to analyse interview data, five overarching themes emerged describing caregivers' perspectives on social support. Themes were related to the following: (1) receiving emotional support from social networks, (2) barriers to accessing emotional support from social networks, (3) isolation and loss of connection following the cancer diagnosis, (4) faith as a source of support, and (5) utility of support groups and caregiver advocates. Several caregivers relied on social networks for emotional support; however, caregivers identified key cultural and generational barriers to seeking support from their social networks which prevented caregivers from disclosing their emotions and caregiving situation. Caregivers also reported being isolated from their support system. CONCLUSION Empirical testing of culturally appropriate strategies that improve social support seeking among caregivers from CALD communities is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Y N Yuen
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
- Centre for Quality and Patient Safety, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
- Psycho-Oncology Research Unit, Olivia Newton John Centre, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
| | - Megan Hale
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
- Psycho-Oncology Research Unit, Olivia Newton John Centre, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Carlene Wilson
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
- Psycho-Oncology Research Unit, Olivia Newton John Centre, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Sawyer CS, Taylor S, Carter L, Stanworth M, Davies M, Thistlethwaite F, Taylor J, Eastwood C, Yorke J. Development and validation of a patient reported experience measure for experimental cancer medicines (PREM-ECM) and their carers (PREM-ECM-Carer). BMC Cancer 2024; 24:500. [PMID: 38641809 PMCID: PMC11031988 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-11963-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our aim was to develop a validated Patient Reported Experience Measure (PREM) to capture patient and carer experience during participation in experimental cancer medicine trials (ECM): called PREM-ECM. METHODS Mixed method design, consisting of four stages. Questionnaire items were produced for both patients and carers using interviews, focus groups, and cognitive interviews with patients and carers separately. For both patient and carer PREMs, a cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted to identify final items for inclusion using hierarchical item reduction and Rasch analysis. Questionnaire validity and reliability were assessed, including administration feasibility. RESULTS Initial interview participants suggested the need for three PREMs, two specific to patients: (i) a 'prior' questionnaire that captured experiences of trial introduction, screening, consenting, and early trial experience (< 6 weeks post consent); and (ii) 'on-trial' that captured experiences of ongoing consent and trial participation; and (iii) a PREM specific for carers. The draft 25-item 'prior' questionnaire was completed by 162 patients and 162 patients completed the draft 35-item 'on-trial' questionnaire. Hierarchical and Rasch analysis produced a 14-item 'prior' list and a 15-item list for 'on-trial'. Both patient PREM's demonstrated a good fit to the Rasch model following Bonferroni correction (X2p = 0.008). The carer 34-draft item questionnaire was completed by 102 participants. Hierarchical and Rasch analysis produced a 13-item list for PREM-ECM-Carer, with good fit to the Rasch model ( X2p = 0.62). The pilot testing demonstrated the feasibility of all the PREMs in capturing patient and caregiver experiences in routine clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS The three PREM-ECM questionnaires will be the first validated experience measures for ECM trial patients and their carers. These questionnaires may be used to assess patients' and their carers' experiences of ECM and enable robust comparisons across cancer trial units highlighting areas for service improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea S Sawyer
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Christie Patient Centred Research (CPCR), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Sally Taylor
- Christie Patient Centred Research (CPCR), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
- Division of Nursing Midwifery and Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Louise Carter
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Melissa Stanworth
- Christie Patient Centred Research (CPCR), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Michelle Davies
- NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
- The Experimental Cancer Medicine Team, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Fiona Thistlethwaite
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- The Experimental Cancer Medicine Team, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Jo Taylor
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Charlotte Eastwood
- Christie Patient Centred Research (CPCR), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Janelle Yorke
- Christie Patient Centred Research (CPCR), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
- Division of Nursing Midwifery and Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
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Holdsworth LM, Siden R, Wong BO, Verano M, Lessios AS, Tabor HK, Schapira L, Aslakson R. "Like not having an arm": a qualitative study of the impact of visitor restrictions on cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Support Care Cancer 2024; 32:288. [PMID: 38622350 PMCID: PMC11018646 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08473-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Visitor restriction policies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among patients and clinicians were widespread during the pandemic, resulting in the exclusion of caregivers at key points of cancer care and treatment decision-making. The aim of this study was to explore how visitor restrictions impacted cancer treatment decision-making and care from patient and physician perspectives. METHODS Sixty-seven interviews, including 48 cancer patients and 19 cancer and palliative care physicians from four academic cancer centers in the USA between August 2020 and July 2021. RESULTS Visitor restrictions that prevented caregivers from participating in clinic appointments and perioperative hospital care created challenges in cancer care that spanned three domains: practical, social, and informational. We identified eight themes that characterized challenges within the three domains across all three groups, and that these challenges had negative emotional and psychological consequences for both groups. Physicians perceived that patients' negative experiences due to lack of support through the physical presence of caregivers may have worsened patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate the tripartite structure of the therapeutic relationship in cancer care with caregivers providing critical support in the decision-making and care process to both patients and physicians. Caregiver absences led to practical, psychosocial, and informational burdens on both groups, and likely increased the risk of burnout among physicians. Our findings suggest that the quality of cancer care can be enhanced by engaging caregivers and promoting their physical presence during clinical encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Holdsworth
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
| | - Rachel Siden
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Bonnie O Wong
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mae Verano
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Anna Sophia Lessios
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Holly K Tabor
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | | | - Rebecca Aslakson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
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Johnston EA, Collins KE, Vicario JN, Sibthorpe C, Ireland MJ, Goodwin BC. Changes in rural caregivers' health behaviors while supporting someone with cancer: A qualitative study. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e7157. [PMID: 38572938 PMCID: PMC10993705 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Caring for someone with cancer has a significant impact on usual routines, including caregivers' ability to maintain their own health and wellbeing. Caregivers living in rural areas face additional challenges in supporting someone with cancer, and little is known about the impact of caregiving on the health behaviors of rural caregivers. Therefore, this study explored how caring for someone with cancer affected rural caregivers' health behaviors. METHODS Through semi-structured interviews, 20 rural caregivers described changes in their health behaviors while caring for someone with cancer and the factors underlying these changes. Specific prompts were provided for diet, physical activity, alcohol, smoking, sleep, social connection and leisure, and accessing health care when needed. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used to identify changes in health behaviors and the factors underlying these changes. The factors identified were mapped to the socioecological framework, identifying areas for intervention across multiple levels (individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy). RESULTS Rural caregivers reported both positive and negative changes to their diet, physical activity, alcohol, and smoking. Sleep, social connection and leisure, and accessing health care were negatively impacted since becoming a caregiver. CONCLUSIONS Designing interventions to address rural caregivers' coping strategies, reduce carer burden and fatigue, improve access to cooking and exercise facilities and social support while away from home, reduce the need to travel for treatment, and increase the financial support available could yield widespread benefits for supporting the health and wellbeing of rural caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Johnston
- Cancer Council QueenslandFortitude ValleyQueenslandAustralia
- School of Exercise and Nutrition SciencesQueensland University of TechnologyKelvin GroveQueenslandAustralia
- Population Health ProgramQIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteHerstonQueenslandAustralia
| | - Katelyn E. Collins
- Cancer Council QueenslandFortitude ValleyQueenslandAustralia
- School of Psychology and WellbeingUniversity of Southern QueenslandSpringfieldQueenslandAustralia
| | | | - Chris Sibthorpe
- Cancer Council QueenslandFortitude ValleyQueenslandAustralia
| | - Michael J. Ireland
- School of Psychology and WellbeingUniversity of Southern QueenslandSpringfieldQueenslandAustralia
- Centre for Health ResearchUniversity of Southern QueenslandSpringfieldQueenslandAustralia
| | - Belinda C. Goodwin
- Cancer Council QueenslandFortitude ValleyQueenslandAustralia
- Centre for Health ResearchUniversity of Southern QueenslandSpringfieldQueenslandAustralia
- School of Population and Global HealthUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
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Trang J, Herbert A, Sansom-Daly UM. How can advance care planning tools help young people's voices be heard? J Paediatr Child Health 2022; 58:1317-1322. [PMID: 35758055 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.16095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The integration of the child or young person (CYP) in conversations around advance care planning (ACP) is an important area of paediatric practice. These discussions provide CYP with the opportunity to voice their values, goals and preferences, enabling health-care professionals to ensure they are aligned with their planned course of treatment. This process, often undertaken within the context of the child's family, empowers children to participate in decisions and experience the dignity of self-determination. It also facilitates an increased understanding between the CYP and those involved in their care. The objectives of this paper are to highlight the importance of these conversations for paediatricians and identify barriers, both real and perceived, that may prevent them from engaging with a CYP about their preferences for future care including focusing more on discussion with the parents, and concern about or not having the skills to engage the child in such sensitive conversations. Triggers that can prompt clinicians to undertake ACP are also discussed. A further complexity is that after seeking their perspective, it may become apparent that the CYP may hold different views and perspectives to their parents and/or clinician. This review article will especially examine elements of end-of-life conversations that are critical to support the important goal of listening to the voice of the CYP. This includes considerations around timing, legal aspects, ethical tensions that arise when amplifying a child's voice, clinician/team-member roles, clinical process considerations, and the use of specific interventions and ACP tools to facilitate these conversations with CYP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta Trang
- Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anthony Herbert
- Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Centre for Children's Health Research, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ursula M Sansom-Daly
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Youth Cancer Service, Prince of Wales/Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Huang RY, Lee TT, Lin YH, Liu CY, Wu HC, Huang SH. Factors Related to Family Caregivers’ Readiness for the Hospital Discharge of Advanced Cancer Patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19138097. [PMID: 35805756 PMCID: PMC9266053 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19138097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Background: Many family caregivers of advanced cancer patients worry about being unable to provide in-home care and delay the discharge. Little is known about the influencing factors of discharge readiness. Methods: This study aimed to investigate the influencing factors of family caregivers’ readiness, used a cross-sectional survey, and enrolled 123 sets of advanced cancer patients and family caregivers using convenience sampling from four oncology wards in a medical centre in northern Taiwan. A self-developed five-point Likert questionnaire, the “Discharge Care Assessment Scale”, surveyed the family caregivers’ difficulties with providing in-home care. Results: The study showed that the discharge readiness of family caregivers affects whether patients can be discharged home. Moreover, the influencing factors of family caregivers’ discharge readiness were the patient’s physical activity performance status and expressed discharge willingness; the presence of someone to assist family caregivers with in-home care; and the difficulties of in-home care. The best prediction model accuracy was78.0%, and the Nagelkerke R2 was 0.52. Conclusion: Discharge planning should start at the point of admission data collection, with the influencing factors of family caregivers’ discharge readiness. It is essential to help patients increase the likelihood of being discharged home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru-Yu Huang
- Department of Nursing, Mackay Memorial Hospital Tamsui Branch, New Taipei City 25160, Taiwan; (R.-Y.H.); (H.-C.W.)
| | - Ting-Ting Lee
- Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Hsien Lin
- Division of Radiotherapy, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei 11220, Taiwan;
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Yu Liu
- Department of Health Care Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 11219, Taiwan;
- Department of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 11219, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Chun Wu
- Department of Nursing, Mackay Memorial Hospital Tamsui Branch, New Taipei City 25160, Taiwan; (R.-Y.H.); (H.-C.W.)
| | - Shu-He Huang
- Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2-2826-7227; Fax: +886-2-2822-9973
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Gonzalez N, Mead KH, Pratt-Chapman ML, Arem H. Healthcare utilization in cancer survivors: six-month longitudinal cohort data. Cancer Causes Control 2022; 33:1005-1012. [PMID: 35576025 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-022-01587-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe healthcare utilization and reasons for delaying medical care and to identify factors that influence high healthcare utilization and care delay among cancer survivors. METHODS Baseline (n = 991) and 6 month follow-up data (n = 777) were collected among breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors from 32 US cancer centers. Participants completed surveys on healthcare utilization (e.g., number of visits to specific providers) and delay of medical care. We categorized participants as high or low users based on median number of visits. We used logistic regression models to examine factors that predicted high healthcare utilization or delay. RESULTS Survivors reported a median of 10.5 visits to healthcare providers and 28% reported ever delaying medical care over 6 months. Compared to prostate cancer survivors, breast and colorectal survivors were 2.4 times more likely (CI = 1.2-4.8) and 4 times more likely (CI = 2.2-7.3) to be high healthcare users, respectively. A higher quality of life score predicted high healthcare utilization (OR = 2.4, CI = 2.0-2.8) and delay of medical care (OR = 1.8, CI = 1.5-2.2). Black survivors were 1.5 times more likely than White survivors to be high healthcare users (CI = 1.1-2.0) and respondents reporting a race category other than White or Black were 1.8 times more likely to delay care (CI = 1.3-2.5). Lower levels of self-efficacy predicted greater healthcare use (OR = 0.7, CI = 0.6-0.8) and delay (OR = 0.6, CI = 0.5-0.7). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that race, education, marital status, cancer type, time since diagnosis, quality of life, and self-efficacy are associated with both high healthcare utilization and delay among cancer survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Gonzalez
- Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - K Holly Mead
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Mandi L Pratt-Chapman
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.,GW Cancer Center, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Hannah Arem
- Healthcare Delivery Research Program, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC, 20008, USA. .,Department of Oncology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
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O'Malley R, O'Connor P, Madden C, Lydon S. A systematic review of the use of positive deviance approaches in primary care. Fam Pract 2022; 39:493-503. [PMID: 34849733 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmab152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Positive Deviance (PD) approach focuses on identifying and learning from those who demonstrate exceptional performance despite facing similar resource constraints to others. Recently, it has been embraced to improve the quality of patient care in a variety of healthcare domains. PD may offer one means of enacting effective quality improvement in primary care. OBJECTIVE(S) This review aimed to synthesize the extant research on applications of the PD approach in primary care. METHODS Seven electronic databases were searched; MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and Web of Science. Studies reporting original data on applications of the PD approach, as described by the PD framework, in primary care were included, and data extracted. Thematic analysis was used to classify positively deviant factors and to develop a conceptual framework. Methodological quality was appraised using the Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies (QuADS). RESULTS In total, 27 studies were included in the review. Studies most frequently addressed Stages 1 and 2 of the PD framework, and targeted 5 core features of primary care; effectiveness, chronic disease management, preventative care, prescribing behaviour, and health promotion. In total, 268 factors characteristic of exceptional care were identified and synthesized into a framework of 37 themes across 7 system levels. CONCLUSION Several useful factors associated with exceptional care were described in the literature. The proposed framework has implications for understanding and disseminating best care practice in primary care. Further refinement of the framework is required before its widespread recommendation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roisin O'Malley
- Discipline of General Practice, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Paul O'Connor
- Discipline of General Practice, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Caoimhe Madden
- Discipline of General Practice, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Sinéad Lydon
- School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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