1,721,319 research outputs found
Randomised controlled trial of a brief intervention targeting predominantly non-verbal communication in general practice consultations
No full textBackgroundThe impact of changing non-verbal consultation behaviours is unknown.AimTo assess brief physician training on improving predominantly non-verbal communication.Design and settingCluster randomised parallel group trial among adults aged ?16 years attending general practices close to the study coordinating centres in Southampton.MethodSixteen GPs were randomised to no training, or training consisting of a brief presentation of behaviours identified from a prior study (acronym KEPe Warm: demonstrating Knowledge of the patient; Encouraging [back-channelling by saying ‘hmm’, for example]; Physically engaging [touch, gestures, slight lean]; Warm-up: cool/professional initially, warming up, avoiding distancing or non-verbal cut-offs at the end of the consultation); and encouragement to reflect on videos of their consultation. Outcomes were the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale (MISS) mean item score (1–7) and patients’ perceptions of other domains of communication.ResultsIntervention participants scored higher MISS overall (0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.06 to 0.41), with the largest changes in the distress–relief and perceived relationship subscales. Significant improvement occurred in perceived communication/partnership (0.29, 95% CI = 0.09 to 0.49) and health promotion (0.26, 95% CI = 0.05 to 0.46). Non-significant improvements occurred in perceptions of a personal relationship, a positive approach, and understanding the effects of the illness on life.ConclusionBrief training of GPs in predominantly non-verbal communication in the consultation and reflection on consultation videotapes improves patients’ perceptions of satisfaction, distress, a partnership approach, and health promotion
Multimorbidity and out-of-pocket expenditure on medicine in Europe:longitudinal analysis of 13 European countries between 2013-2015
Full text linkBACKGROUND: Many European Health Systems are implementing or increasing levels of cost-sharing for medicine in response to the growing constrains on public spending on health despite their negative impact on population health due to delay in seeking care.OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the relationships between multimorbidity (two or more coexisting chronic diseases, CDs), complex multimorbidity (three or more CDs impacting at least three different body systems), and out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) for medicine across European nations.METHODS: This study utilized data on participants aged 50 years and above from two recent waves of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe conducted in 2013 ( n = 55,806) and 2015 ( n = 51,237). Pooled cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs were used, as well as a two-part model, to analyse the association between multimorbidity and OOPE for medicine. RESULTS: The prevalence of multimorbidity was 50.4% in 2013 and 48.2% in 2015. Nearly half of those with multimorbidity had complex multimorbidity. Each additional CD was associated with a 34% greater likelihood of incurring any OOPE for medicine (Odds ratio = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.31 -1.36). The average incremental OOPE for medicine was 26.4 euros for each additional CD (95% CI = 25.1 -27·7), and 32.1 euros for each additional body system affected (95% CI 30.6 -33.7). In stratified analyses for country-specific quartiles of household income the average incremental OOPE for medicine was not significantly different across groups. CONCLUSION: Between 2013 and 2015 in 13 European Health Systems increased prevalence of CDs was associated with greater likelihood of having OOPE on medication and an increase in the average amount spent when one occurred. Monitoring this indicator is important considering the negative association with treatment adherence and subsequent effects on health.</p
More time for complex consultations in a high deprivation practice is associated with increased patient enablement
No full textBackgroundEvidence of the beneficial effects of longer consultations in general practice is limited.AimTo evaluate the effect of increasing consultation length on patient enablement in general practice in an area of extreme socioeconomic deprivation.Design of studyLongitudinal study using a ‘before and after’ design.SettingKeppoch Medical Centre in Glasgow, which serves the most deprived practice area in Scotland.MethodParticipants were 300 adult patients at baseline, before the introduction of longer consultations, and 324 at follow-up, more than 1 year after the introduction of longer consultations. The intervention studied was more time in complex consultations. Patient satisfaction, perceptions of the GPs’ empathy, GP stress, and patient enablement were collected by faceto-face interview. Additional qualitative data were obtained by individual interviews with the GPs, relating to their perceptions of the impact of the longer consultations.ResultsResponse rates of 70% were obtained. Overall, 53% of consultations were complex. GP stress was higher in complex consultations. Patient satisfaction and perception of the GPs’ empathy were consistently high. Average consultation length in complex consultations was increased by 2.5 minutes by the intervention. GP stress in consultations was decreased after the introduction of longer consultations, and patient enablement was increased. GPs’ views endorsed these findings, with more anticipatory and coordinated care being possible in the longer consultations.ConclusionMore resource to provide more time in complex consultations in an area of extreme deprivation is associated with an increase in patient enablement
General practitioner empathy, patient enablement, and patient-reported outcomes in primary care in an area of high socio-economic deprivation in Scotland - a pilot prospective study using structural equation modelling
Full text link<b>Objective</b> The aim of this pilot prospective study was to investigate the relationships between general practitioners (GPs) empathy, patient enablement, and patient-assessed outcomes in primary care consultations in an area of high socio-economic deprivation in Scotland.<p></p>
<b>Methods</b> This prospective study was carried out in a five-doctor practice in an area of high socio-economic deprivation in Scotland. Patients’ views on the consultation were gathered using the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) Measure and the Patient Enablement Instrument (PEI). Changes in main complaint and well-being 1 month after the contact consultation were gathered from patients by postal questionnaire. The effect of GP empathy on patient enablement and prospective change in outcome was investigated using structural equation modelling.<p></p>
<b>Results</b> 323 patients completed the initial questionnaire at the contact consultation and of these 136 (42%) completed and returned the follow-up questionnaire at 1 month. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the construct validity of the CARE Measure, though omission of two of the six PEI items was required in order to reach an acceptable global data fit. The structural equation model revealed a direct positive relationship between GP empathy and patient enablement at contact consultation and a prospective relationship between patient enablement and changes in main complaint and well-being at 1 month.<p></p>
<b>Conclusion</b> In a high deprivation setting, GP empathy is associated with patient enablement at consultation, and enablement predicts patient-rated changes 1 month later. Further larger studies are desirable to confirm or refute these findings.<p></p>
<b>Practice implications</b> Ways of increasing GP empathy and patient enablement need to be established in order to maximise patient outcomes. Consultation length and relational continuity of care are known factors; the benefit of training and support for GPs needs to be further investigate
Verbal and non-verbal behaviour and patient perception of communication in primary care: an observational study
No full textBackgroundFew studies have assessed the importance of a broad range of verbal and non-verbal consultation behaviours.AimTo explore the relationship of observer ratings of behaviours of videotaped consultations with patients’ perceptions.Design and settingObservational study in general practices close to Southampton, Southern England.MethodVerbal and non-verbal behaviour was rated by independent observers blind to outcome. Patients competed the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale (MISS; primary outcome) and questionnaires addressing other communication domains.ResultsIn total, 275/360 consultations from 25 GPs had useable videotapes. Higher MISS scores were associated with slight forward lean (an 0.02 increase for each degree of lean, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.002 to 0.03), the number of gestures (0.08, 95% CI = 0.01 to 0.15), ‘back-channelling’ (for example, saying ‘mmm’) (0.11, 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.2), and social talk (0.29, 95% CI = 0.4 to 0.54). Starting the consultation with professional coolness (‘aloof’) was helpful and optimism unhelpful. Finishing with non-verbal ‘cut-offs’ (for example, looking away), being professionally cool (‘aloof’), or patronising, (‘infantilising’) resulted in poorer ratings. Physical contact was also important, but not traditional verbal communication.ConclusionThese exploratory results require confirmation, but suggest that patients may be responding to several non-verbal behaviours and non-specific verbal behaviours, such as social talk and back-channelling, more than traditional verbal behaviours. A changing consultation dynamic may also help, from professional ‘coolness’ at the beginning of the consultation to becoming warmer and avoiding non-verbal cut-offs at the end
Scoping review of systematic reviews of complementary medicine for musculoskeletal and mental health conditions
No full textOBJECTIVE: To identify potentially effective complementary approaches for musculoskeletal (MSK)-mental health (MH) comorbidity, by synthesising evidence on effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and safety from systematic reviews (SRs).DESIGN: Scoping review of SRs.METHODS: We searched literature databases, registries and reference lists, and contacted key authors and professional organisations to identify SRs of randomised controlled trials for complementary medicine for MSK or MH. Inclusion criteria were: published after 2004, studying adults, in English and scoring >50% on Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR); quality appraisal checklist). SRs were synthesised to identify research priorities, based on moderate/good quality evidence, sample size and indication of cost-effectiveness and safety.RESULTS: We included 84 MSK SRs and 27 MH SRs. Only one focused on MSK-MH comorbidity. Meditative approaches and yoga may improve MH outcomes in MSK populations. Yoga and tai chi had moderate/good evidence for MSK and MH conditions. SRs reported moderate/good quality evidence (any comparator) in a moderate/large population for: low back pain (LBP) (yoga, acupuncture, spinal manipulation/mobilisation, osteopathy), osteoarthritis (OA) (acupuncture, tai chi), neck pain (acupuncture, manipulation/manual therapy), myofascial trigger point pain (acupuncture), depression (mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), meditation, tai chi, relaxation), anxiety (meditation/MBSR, moving meditation, yoga), sleep disorders (meditative/mind-body movement) and stress/distress (mindfulness). The majority of these complementary approaches had some evidence of safety-only three had evidence of harm. There was some evidence of cost-effectiveness for spinal manipulation/mobilisation and acupuncture for LBP, and manual therapy/manipulation for neck pain, but few SRs reviewed cost-effectiveness and many found no data.CONCLUSIONS: Only one SR studied MSK-MH comorbidity. Research priorities for complementary medicine for both MSK and MH (LBP, OA, depression, anxiety and sleep problems) are yoga, mindfulness and tai chi. Despite the large number of SRs and the prevalence of comorbidity, more high-quality, large randomised controlled trials in comorbid populations are needed.</p
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