Do doctors and patients agree on cardiovascular-risk management recommendations post-consultation? The INTERMEDE study

Healthcare professionals' social distance towards immigrant patients: A descriptive cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the attitudes, beliefs, experiences, and the level of social distance among healthcare professionals who provide healthcare to refugee patients.

DESIGN

Descriptive cross-sectional study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

The researchers obtained the ethical approval of the study from the Non-Interventional Ethical Committee of Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine on 23/11/2018. The study was carried out between December 2018 and February 2019 at Sakarya University Research and Training Hospital.

METHODOLOGY

A total of 1484 healthcare professionals work at clinics which are likely to offer care to refugee patients. Descriptive analyses were performed for the study. The data were collected by a questionnaire created by the researchers in light of related literature to investigate the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and their work-related descriptive characteristics (such as, experience, beliefs, etc.) which may affect their attitudes while providing healthcare to refugee patients. The form was prepared by the researchers based on the literature knowledge. For determining the level of social distance towards refugee patients, Arkar's²⁸ social distance scale was used.

RESULTS

Health professionals show a serious level of social distance towards refugee patients due to various difficulties but mainly because of the language barrier.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare professionals have great social distance to refugee patients. Moreover, they can continue their professional attitudes towards patients in emotional terms.

[The social to the test, the test of the social. Or the art of accommodating patients' social position in preventive work in general medicine]

AIM

This article examines the way in which private general practitioners take into account the social position of their patients in their preventive work.

METHODS

After a review of the main normative constructs supposed to equip the general practitioners to grasp the social dimension of their practice, the article used two surveys on the provision of preventive care, one epidemiological (PrevQuanti) and the other sociological (PrevQuali).

RESULTS

Deontology, training and recommendations make it difficult to shape the social dimensions of health that pratitioners have to deal with. The PrevQuanti survey, however, revealed that the provision of preventive care is subject to almost systematic but variable social gradients. The analysis, based on the PrevQuali interview study, makes the ways in which pratitioners mobilise the social position of their patients and whether or not they adapt to it.

CONCLUSION

The positionings of general practitioners can be modelled in a typology of six postures between which some oscillate.

Disease self-management in patients with moderate COPD: a thematic analysis

BACKGROUND

Treatment of patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is challenged by the low priority of the disease by patients and general practitioners (GPs) affecting the extent of self-management. The aim of this study was to explore (i) attitudes to COPD self-management in patients with moderate COPD, (ii) perceptions of GP commitment to pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with moderate COPD, and (iii) COPD knowledge in patients with moderate COPD.

METHODS

The study had a qualitative design using semi-structured interviews to explore the views of 14 patients diagnosed with moderate COPD. We applied strategic sampling to obtain maximum variation and conducted a thematic analysis of the data.

RESULTS

Our main findings were that the degree of COPD self-management was linked to the resources of the informants. Further, the patients experienced that GPs only availed themselves of selected parts of the recommendations for COPD treatment by focusing on medical treatment and smoking cessation rather than physical activity and diet. Many patients lacked knowledge regarding the tolerated level of physical activity and therefore avoided activity increasing their heart rate. Finally, many patients were reluctant to accept the diagnosis because the disease is known to be self-inflicted.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that patients with moderate COPD need more information, especially regarding the positive effects of physical activity. GPs might need to devote more time to the three main elements of COPD treatment, smoking cessation, medical treatment, and physical activity, to promote self-management and a healthier lifestyle in patients with COPD.

Évaluation quadriennale des programmes d’ETP en Île-de-France : un moyen de pilotage régional

Introduction : Dans le cadre de la première évaluation quadriennale des programmes d’Éducation Thérapeutique du Patient (ETP) en Île-de-France, l’agence régionale de santé d’Île-de-France a marqué sa volonté de décrire et d’analyser l’offre des programmes d’ETP initialement autorisés entre 2010 et début 2011. Méthode : L’étude s’est déroulé en deux temps à partir d’une démarche méthodologique mixte selon un design explicatif afin d’approfondir et expliquer les premiers résultats quantitatifs (obtenus par un traitement statistique des résultats au moyen de pourcentages) par des données qualitatives (à partir de focus groups). Résultats : Sur les 600 programmes franciliens autorisés entre 2010 et début 2011, 515 programmes ont été reconduits avec seulement 10 % d’arrêts après 4 ans. On constate une augmentation régulière du nombre de patients inclus dans les programmes d’ETP. L’offre est centrée sur Paris et la petite couronne par le simple fait que l’AP-HP est le principal promoteur de programmes. Trois quarts des programmes sont portés par des centres hospitaliers et seulement 18 % d’entre eux sont proposés en dehors. L’étude a confirmé le caractère multi professionnel et interdisciplinaire des programmes. Le soutien et la formation des équipes à l’évaluation des programmes d’ETP apparaissent comme une nécessité pour ces dernières. Discussion : L’investissement des acteurs de l’ETP est incontestable, tant par le nombre et la variété des programmes, les files actives de patients éduqués, que par la quantité de personnels mobilisés. Néanmoins, d’ETP est encore loin d’être homogène et équitablement répartie entre pathologies, les publics bénéficiaires, les territoires et les structures de soins. Ainsi, une telle étude questionne plus largement l’intégration de l’ETP dans une stratégie d’amélioration de la qualité de la prise en charge des maladies chroniques.

Integrating Multidisciplinary Results to Produce New Knowledge About the Physician-Patient Relationship: A Methodology Applied to the INTERMEDE Project

The INTERMEDE Project brought together a number of research teams to study the interaction between a patient and their general practitioner, and how this can produce social inequalities in health. The ultimate objective of the project was to formalize a core of common findings by integrating qualitative and quantitative results. The methodology chosen for the integration was inspired by the Delphi participatory method. It involves several rounds of questions and feedback in writing between all members of project teams, in order to compare contradictory opinions and identify key concepts arising from the project. This interdisciplinary research has provided a more nuanced understanding of the mechanisms underlying physician-patient interaction by revealing the convergences of the various disciplinary approaches.

Perceptions of overweight in a Caribbean population: the role of health professionals

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of obesity and its complications is particularly high in the Caribbean. Underestimation of weight status could explain the failure by subjects concerned to adopt behaviours complying with medical recommendations. Little research is available on the role of health professionals in overweight perception.

OBJECTIVE

To examine relationships between overweight underestimation and lack of communication on overweight diagnosis by health professionals in a multicultural Caribbean population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study, lead in 2014 on a sample representative of the population of Saint-Martin (395 subjects, 25-74 years). Overweight perception was assessed on Likert scale. Corpulence was assessed from measured waist circumference (WC). Individuals with excess abdominal adiposity (WC ≥ 80cm for women, ≥ 94cm for men) but stating they did not feel overweight were considered to underestimate their weight status. Patient-reported lack of communication on their diagnosis by health professionals was likewise explored. Respondents' first language defined cultural community. Multivariate analysis used logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among individuals presenting excessive WC, 4 out of 10 did not perceive themselves as overweight. Six out of 10 said they had never been told about their weight by a health professional, whether or not they had their weight and waist measured by their referring physician in the preceding year. Independently from WC, overweight underestimation was associated with lack of communication on overweight diagnosis for both sexes. For women, overweight underestimation was associated with belonging to the Creole community.

CONCLUSION

Greater care is required when giving a diagnosis of overweight, particularly in social-cultural contexts where weight norms differ.

How do GPs in Switzerland perceive their patients' satisfaction and expectations? An observational study

OBJECTIVES

To assess doctors' perceptions of their patients' satisfaction and expectations in primary care.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study using questionnaires completed by general practitioners (GPs) and their patients.

SETTING

Primary care practices in Geneva, Switzerland.

PARTICIPANTS

23 GPs from a random list of 75 GPs practising in the canton of Geneva (participation rate 31%), who each recruited between 50 and 100 consecutive patients coming to the practice for a scheduled medical consultation, leading to a total of 1637 patients (participation rate: 97%, women: 63%, mean age: 54 years). Patient exclusion criteria were: new patients, those consulting in an emergency situation or suffering from disorders affecting their ability to consent, and those who did not speak French.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Patients satisfaction with and expectations from the care they received in this practice; GPs perceptions of their patient's satisfaction and expectations.

RESULTS

GPs underestimated all patient satisfaction items (p<0.001 for all items) whereas they overestimated their expectations, except for equipment (laboratory and X-ray) and some accessibility items. In a multivariate analysis to assess which GP factors were associated with correct assessment of their patients' views, only GPs' certification status was a significant factor.

CONCLUSIONS

GPs tend to underestimate patients' satisfaction but overestimate their expectations in primary care. These findings may help GPs to understand patients' views in order to adequately meet their expectations and concerns.

Do gender differences affect the doctor-patient interaction during consultations in general practice? Results from the INTERMEDE study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to ascertain whether disagreement between GPs and patients on advice given on nutrition, exercise and weight loss is related to patient-doctor gender discordance. Our hypothesis is that a patient interacting with a physician of the same gender may perceive more social proximity, notably on health care beliefs and may be more inclined to trust them.

METHODS

The analysis used the Intermede project's quantitative data collected via mirrored questionnaires at the end of the consultation. Multilevel logistic regressions were carried out to explore associations between patient-doctor gender discordance and their disagreement on advice given during the consultation adjusted on patients' and physicians' characteristics. The sample consists of 585 eligible patients and 27 GPs.

RESULTS

Disagreement on advice given on nutrition was observed less often for female concordant dyads: OR = 0.25 (95% CI = 0.08-0.78), and for female doctors-male patients dyads: OR = 0.24 (95% CI = 0.07-0.84), taking the male concordant dyads as reference. For advice given on exercise, disagreement was found less often for female concordant dyads OR = 0.38 (95% CI = 0.15-0.98) and an interdoctor effect was found (P < 0.05). For advice given on weight loss, the probability of disagreement was significantly increased (OR: 2.87 95% CI = 1.29-6.41) when consultations consisted of female patient and male GP.

CONCLUSION

Patient-doctor gender concordance/discordance is associated with their agreement/disagreement on advice given during the consultation. Physicians need to be conscious that their own demographic characteristics and perceptions might influence the quality of prevention counseling delivered to their patients.

Implementing cardiometabolic health checks in general practice: a qualitative process evaluation

BACKGROUND

A stepwise screening approach for the detection and management of cardiometabolic disease is proposed in various primary care guidelines. The aim of this study was to explore the implementation of a cardiometabolic health check as perceived by the involved caregivers and patients.

METHODS

Qualitative process evaluation of the implementation of a cardiometabolic screening programme in a multidisciplinary primary healthcare centre in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, in which 1270 patients had participated. We explored the caregivers' experiences though focus group discussions and collected patients' experiences through a written questionnaire containing two open-ended questions. We analyzed our data using a thematic content analysis based on grounded theory principles.

RESULTS

Five general practitioners, three practice nurses and five medical receptionists participated in the focus groups. Additionally we collected experiences of 657 (52% of 1270) participating patients through an open-ended questionnaire.GPs were enthusiastic about offering a health check and preferred systematic screening over case-finding, both in terms of yield and workload. The level of patient participation was high and most participants were enthusiastic about the health check being offered by their GP. Despite their enthusiasm, the GPs realized that they lacked experience in the design and implementation of a structured, large-scale prevention programme. This resulted in suboptimal instruction of the involved practice nurses and medical receptionists. The recruitment strategy was unnecessarily aggressive. There were shortcomings in communicating the outcomes of the health check to the patients and there was no predefined follow-up programme. Based on our findings we developed a checklist that can be used by designers of similar health checks.

CONCLUSIONS

A number of fundamental issues may arise when GPs organize a systematic screening programme in their practice. These issues are related to the preparation of the involved staff, the importance of integration with everyday clinical practice, the approach of healthy patients and the provision of adequate follow-up programmes. The identified challenges and recommendations can be taken into account during future screening programmes.

Is perceived social distance between the patient and the general practitioner related to their disagreement on patient's health status?

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain whether disagreement between patients and general practitioners (GP) on the patient's health status varies according to their respective perceived social distance (PSD).

METHODS

The analysis used the Intermede project's quantitative data collected from 585 patients and 27 doctors via mirrored questionnaires. GPs and patients ranked their own perceived social position (PSP) in society, and their patients' and their GP respectively. PSD was calculated as the PSP's subtraction from the patients' and GPs' assessments.

RESULTS

Disagreement between GPs and patients regarding the patient's health status was associated with PSD by the GP whereas it was not associated with PSD by the patient. In the multilevel analysis, disagreement whereby GPs overestimate patient's health status increased within PSD by the GP: OR:2.9 (95%CI = 1.0-8.6, p = 0.055) for low PSD, OR:3.4 (95%CI = 1.1-10.2, p < 0.05) for moderate PSD and OR:3.8 (95%CI = 1.1-13.1, p < 0.05) for high PSD (reference: no distance).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients perceived with a lower social position by their GP and who consider themselves to have poor health are less likely to be identified in the primary care system.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Physicians need to be conscious that their own perception influences the quality of the interaction with their patients, potentially resulting in unequal health care trajectories.

Clinical care and health disparities

Health disparities, also known as health inequities, are systematic and potentially remediable differences in one or more aspects of health across population groups defined socially, economically, demographically, or geographically. This topic has been the subject of research stretching back at least decades. Reports and studies have delved into how inequities develop in different societies and, with particular regard to health services, in access to and financing of health systems. In this review, we consider empirical studies from the United States and elsewhere, and we focus on how one aspect of health systems, clinical care, contributes to maintaining systematic differences in health across population groups characterized by social disadvantage. We consider inequities in clinical care and the policies that influence them. We develop a framework for considering the structural and behavioral components of clinical care and review the existing literature for evidence that is likely to be generalizable across health systems over time. Starting with the assumption that health services, as one aspect of social services, ought to enhance equity in health care, we conclude with a discussion of threats to that role and what might be done about them.