Uplifting Primary Care Through the Electronic Health Record

Immersive experiences in museums for elderly with cognitive disorders: a user-centered design approach

In the context of global aging, to explore the design needs of elderly with dementia in museum environments, to establish a user cognitive psychological model based on immersion theory, and to enhance the satisfaction of cognitively impaired dementia with the museum service experience. Using literature research, surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups, we analyze the experience design from the psychological demands of elderly with dementia, build a method of mining user needs by combining the KANO model with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, and establish a model for evaluating the excellence of the experience of the museum environment. The conclusion shows that displaying museum virtual scenes or old objects can effectively increase the subjective well-being of people suffering from various health conditions. The method can accurately tap the attributes of the needs of elderly with dementia, break through the drawbacks of the traditional museum experience design which is dominated by the designer's subjective consciousness, and allow the audience to better experience the museum immersive experience, which provides a new idea and method for the effectiveness of cognitive interventions for elderly with cognitive disorders.

Management of chronic breathlessness in primary care: what do GPs, non-GP specialists, and allied health professionals think?

BACKGROUND

To explore the perspectives of GPs, non-GP specialists, and allied health professionals on the role of primary care in diagnosing and managing chronic breathlessness, the barriers faced, and the resources needed to optimise care of patients with chronic breathlessness.

METHODS

This was a qualitative study involving focus group discussions that included 35GPs, non-GP specialists, and allied health professionals. Topics explored included: (1) views on the role of primary care in diagnosing and managing chronic breathlessness; (2) barriers to optimal assessment in primary care; and (3) facilitators to further optimise the care of patients with chronic breathlessness.

RESULTS

All participants considered that primary care has a central role to play in the assessment and management of chronic breathlessness, but greater access to referral services, suitable funding structures, and upskilling on the use of diagnostic tests such as spirometry and electrocardiography are required for this to be realised. Both GPs and non-GP specialists described great potential for developing better linkages, including new ways of referral and online consultations, greater ease of referral to allied health services, even if conducted virtually, for patients with functional causes of breathlessness. Participants identified a need to develop integrated breathlessness clinics for patients referred by GPs, which would ensure patients receive optimal care in the shortest possible time frame.

CONCLUSIONS

GPs are crucial to achieving optimal care for breathless patients, especially given the multifactorial and multimorbid nature of breathlessness; however, there are significant gaps in services and resources at present that limit their ability to perform this role.