Do primary care physicians coordinate ambulatory care for chronic disease patients in Canada?

Navigation programs to support community-dwelling individuals with life-limiting illness: determinants of implementation

BACKGROUND

As the Canadian population ages and the prevalence of chronic illnesses increases, delivering high-quality care to individuals with advanced life limiting illnesses becomes more challenging. Community-based navigation programs are a promising approach to address these challenges, but little is known about how these programs are successfully implemented to meet the needs of this population. This study sought to identify the key determinants that contribute to the successful implementation of these programs within Canada.

METHODS

A qualitative study was undertaken to understand the implementation of eleven innovative, community-based navigation programs that aim to address the needs of individuals with life-limiting illnesses as they approach the end of life. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided the study design. Key informants (n = 23) within these programs took part in semi-structured interviews where they were asked to discuss how these programs are implemented. Data were analyzed using techniques employed in qualitative description.

RESULTS

We identified key determinants of successful implementation within each CFIR domain. In the outer setting domain, participants emphasized the importance of filling gaps in care to meet client needs, developing strong relationships with clients and community-based organizations, and navigating relationships with healthcare providers. At the inner setting level, leadership support, staff compatibility, and available resources were identified as important factors. In terms of intervention characteristics, the ability to adapt was cited as a facilitator, whereas costs were identified as a barrier. For the characteristics of individuals, participants described the importance of having staff whose values align with the program, and who have the experience and skills necessary to work with complex clients. Finally, having strong champions and evaluation processes were highlighted as important process-oriented determinants of successful implementation.

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insights into the determinants of successful implementation of community-based navigation programs in Canada. Understanding these determinants can guide the future development and integration of navigation programs to successfully meet the needs of those with life-limiting illnesses.

How do navigation programs address the needs of those living in the community with advanced, life-limiting Illness? A realist evaluation of programs in Canada

BACKGROUND

We sought to identify innovative navigation programs across Canadian jurisdictions that target their services to individuals affected by life-limiting illness and their families, and articulate the principal components of these programs that enable them to address the needs of their clients who are living in the community.

METHODS

This realist evaluation used a two-phased approach. First, we conducted a horizon scan of innovative community-based navigation programs across Canadian jurisdictions to identify innovative community-based navigation programs that aim to address the needs of community-dwelling individuals affected by life-limiting illness. Second, we conducted semi-structured interviews with key informants from each of the selected programs. Informants included individuals responsible for managing and delivering the program and decision-makers with responsibility and/or oversight of the program. Analyses proceeded in an iterative manner, consistent with realist evaluation methods. This included iteratively developing and refining Context-Mechanism-Outcome (CMO) configurations, and developing the final program theory.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven navigation programs were identified from the horizon scan. Using specific eligibility criteria, 11 programs were selected for subsequent interviews and in-depth examination. Twenty-three participants were interviewed from these programs, which operated in five Canadian provinces. The programs represented a mixture of community (non-profit or volunteer), research-initiated, and health system programs. The final program theory was articulated as: navigation programs can improve client outcomes if they have supported and empowered staff who have the time and flexibility to personalize care to the needs of their clients.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings highlight key principles (contexts and mechanisms) that enable navigation programs to develop client relationships, personalize care to client needs, and improve client outcomes. These principles include staff (or volunteer) knowledge and experience to coordinate health and social services, having a point of contact after hours, and providing staff (and volunteers) time and flexibility to develop relationships and respond to individualized client needs. These findings may be used by healthcare organizations - outside of navigation programs - to work towards more person-centred care.

Bridging Gaps in Diabetic Nephropathy Care: A Narrative Review Guided by the Lived Experiences of Patient Partners

Purpose of review

Diabetes affects almost a 10th of the Canadian population, and diabetic nephropathy is one of its main complications. It remains a leading cause of kidney failure despite the availability of effective treatments.

Sources of information

The sources of information are iterative discussions between health care professionals and patient partners and literature collected through the search of multiple databases.

Methods

Major pitfalls related to optimal diabetic nephropathy care were identified through discussions between patient partners and clinician researchers. We identified underlying factors that were common between pitfalls. We then conducted a narrative review of strategies to overcome them, with a focus on Canadian initiatives.

Key findings

We identified 5 pitfalls along the diabetic nephropathy trajectory, including a delay in diabetes diagnosis, suboptimal glycemic control, delay in the detection of kidney involvement, suboptimal kidney protection, and deficient management of advanced chronic kidney disease. Several innovative care models and approaches have been proposed to address these pitfalls; however, they are not consistently applied. To improve diabetic nephropathy care in Canada, we recommend focusing initiatives on improving awareness of diabetic nephropathy, improving access to timely evidence-based care, fostering inclusive patient-centered care environment, and generating new evidence that supports complex disease management. It is imperative that patients and their families are included at the center of these initiatives.

Limitations

This review was limited to research published in peer-reviewed journals. We did not perform a systematic review of the literature; we included articles that were relevant to the major pitfalls identified by our patient partners. Study quality was also not formally assessed. The combination of these factors limits the scope of our conclusions.

Impfen gegen Influenza – Internationale Bestandsaufnahme und Perspektiven für Deutschland

Hintergrund

Die aktuelle SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie erfordert hohe Durchimpfungsraten von chronisch Kranken gegen Influenza, um das Gesundheitssystem nicht zusätzlich zu belasten. Trotz klarer Evidenz für Sicherheit und Wirksamkeit der Influenza-Impfung sind die Impfquoten in den vergangenen Jahren international auf insuffizientem Niveau verblieben. Der Hausarzt hat eine zentrale Bedeutung für die Versorgung dieser Population. Ziel dieser systematischen Übersichtsarbeit war daher die Evaluation verschiedener Maßnahmen in der Allgemeinmedizin zur Steigerung der saisonalen Influenza-Impfquoten bei chronisch Kranken unter Berücksichtigung verschiedener internationaler Gesundheitssysteme.

Methoden

Eine systematische Literaturrecherche wurde in MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE und ERIC sowie manuell in Studienregistern und Literaturlisten durchgeführt. Dabei wurden ausschließlich randomisierte kontrollierte Studien berücksichtigt. Die Methodik wurde im Vorfeld in einem Studienprotokoll festgelegt (PROSPERO CRD42018114163).

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt wurden 14 Studien im Rahmen eines nationalen Gesundheitsdienstes (Großbritannien), einer staatlichen (Australien) und sozialen (Schweiz) Krankenversicherung und eines privaten Gesundheitssystems (USA) in unsere Übersichtsarbeit eingeschlossen. Analoge Patientenerinnerungen und automatisierte Arzterinnerungen sowie Veränderungen der beruflichen Rollen führten ausschließlich im privaten Gesundheitssystem zu einem deutlichen Anstieg der Influenzaimpfquoten. Im nationalen Gesundheitsdienst konnte keine der analysierten Interventionen einen signifikanten Anstieg der Impfquoten erreichen, wobei im nationalen Gesundheitsdienst Großbritanniens verhältnismäßig gute Basisimpfraten gegen Influenza bereits vor Durchführung der Studien interventionsunabhängig vorlagen. Fortbildungsveranstaltungen für Praxisteams und Erinnerungs-SMS zeigten in den sozialen und staatlichen Krankenversicherungssystemen der Schweiz und in Australien gute Resultate.

Schlussfolgerungen

In Deutschland könnten vor allem Fortbildungsveranstaltungen für medizinische Teams und sowie zentral organisierte Einladungs- und Monitoringsysteme zur Verbesserung der Impfquoten bei chronisch Kranken geeignet sein. Eine staatliche Kostenübernahme der Impfkosten scheint in verschiedenen Gesundheitssystemen für eine gute Basisimpfquote gegen Influenza bei Indikationspatienten zu sorgen.

Klug S, Gensichen J. Increasing Influenza Vaccination Rates in People With Chronic Illness

BACKGROUND

The safety and efficacy of influenza vaccination for the chronically ill are clearly supported by the evidence, yet vaccination rates in this vulnerable popu- lation remain low. This leads to many avoidable hospitalizations and deaths in Germany every year. The goal of this systematic review is to identify measures in primary care medicine that can be used to increase influenza vaccination rates among the chronically ill.

METHODS

This review was carried out as recommended in the PRISMA statement. A systematic literature search was performed. Only randomized, controlled trials were included in the analysis. Details can be found in the study protocol (PROSPERO, CRD42018114163).

RESULTS

15 trials were included in the analysis. Training sessions for medical practice teams focusing on a particular disease raised the vaccination rates by as much as 22%. A financial incentive had the greatest effect (relative risk [RR]: 2.79; 95% confidence interval: [1.18; 6.62]). Reminders via text message yielded a maximum 3.8% absolute increase in vaccination rates. Complex interventions were not found to be of any greater benefit than simple ones.

CONCLUSION

A variety of approaches can be effective. Focusing training sessions for medical practice teams on certain diseases may be of greater benefit than vacci- nation-centered training sessions. Reminder systems for doctors should be more reliably implemented. Simple strategies are perhaps the most suitable ones in the heterogeneous population of chronically ill persons. The limitations of this system- atic review include the heterogeneity of the studies that we examined and the small number of studies in each category.

The impact of the adoption of a patient rostering model on primary care access and continuity of care in urban family practices in Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND

Greater continuity and access to primary care results in improved patient health, satisfaction, and reduced healthcare costs. Although patient rostering is considered to be a cornerstone of a high performing primary care system and is believed to improve continuity and access, few studies have examined these relationships. This study examined the impact of the adoption of a patient rostering enhanced fee-for-service model (eFFS) on continuity, coordination of specialized care, and access.

METHOD

A population-based longitudinal study was conducted using health administrative data from urban family practices in Ontario, Canada. Family physicians that transitioned from traditional FFS (tFFS) to eFFS between 2004 and 2013 were followed overtime. Physicians providing comprehensive primary care that had at least 4 years of pre-transition and 2 years of post-transition data were eligible. Patients were attributed to physicians on an annual basis by determining the provider that billed the largest dollar amount over a 2 year period. Outcomes of interest were the usual provider of care index (UPC), a referral index (RI) (% of total primary care referrals for a physician's roster made by the main provider), and emergency department (ED) visits for family practice sensitive conditions (FPSCs). Mixed-effects segmented linear and logistic regressions were used to examine changes in outcomes while controlling for patient and provider contextual factors.

RESULTS

Prior to transitioning, UPC was decreasing at a rate of 0.27%/year (95% CI: -0.34 to - 0.21, p < 0.0001). Following the transition, UPC began decreasing by an additional 0.59%/year (95% CI: -0.69 to - 0.49, p < 0.0001) relative to the pre-transition rate. RI decreased by an additional 0.34%/year (95% CI: -0.43 to - 0.24, p < 0.0001) relative to the pre-transition period, where it had been stable. The transition had minimal impact on FPSC ED visits.

CONCLUSION

Continuity and coordination of specialized care slightly decreased upon transition from tFFS to eFFS. This is likely due to physicians working in groups and sharing patients following the transition to the eFFS model. Adoption of an enrolment model with after-hours care did not decrease non-urgent ED use, which may reflect the small impact that primary care access has on these types of ED visits.

Effectiveness of Healthcare Coordination in Patients with Chronic Respiratory Diseases

Coordination of healthcare effectively prevents exacerbations and reduces the number of hospitalizations, emergency visits, and the mortality rate in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine clinical effectiveness of ambulatory healthcare coordination in chronic respiratory patients and its effect on the level of healthcare services as an indicator of direct medical costs. We conducted a retrospective health record survey, using an online database of 550 patients with chronic respiratory diseases. There were decreases in breathing rate, heart rate, and the number of cigarettes smoked per day, and forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expired volume in 1 s (FEV1) increased after the implementation of the coordinated healthcare structure. These benefits were accompanied by increases in the number of visits to the pulmonary outpatient clinic (p < 0.001), diagnostic costs (p < 0.001), and referrals to other outpatient clinics (p < 0.003) and hospitals (p < 0.001). The advantageous effects of healthcare coordination on clinical status of respiratory patients above outlined persisted over a 3-year period being reviewed.